In a statement, the Australian Federation of Air Pilots said Simone McGurk, WA Minister for Industrial Relations, had met with a union representative to request the work stoppage not go ahead over the weekend due to the risk posed by ex-Tropical Cyclone Lincoln in the state’s northwest.

The carrier says Auckland Airport’s multi-billion-dollar redevelopment, to take place over 10 years and be funded in part by increases to aeronautical charges, will lead to “unaffordable airfares for some Kiwis”. It has lodged an official request with NZ Commerce Minister Andrew Bayly for an inquiry.

Labor says its reforms will increase transparency around slot allocation, hold airlines accountable for “misuse” of slots and introduce a “recovery period” after major delays.

The union, which has had a volatile relationship with the national carrier for more than a decade, said replacing Richard Goyder with John Mullen offered workers a “glimmer of hope”.