New Zealanders are anticipating a shift to Alert Level 2 (currently at Alert Level 3) during the COVID-19 crisis and, in anticipation, Air New Zealand has announced it will operate more domestic flights when Level 2 is officially announced. The airline hopes to be operating at around 20 per cent of its pre-COVID-19 levels) during Alert Level 2.
“Alert Level 2 will see the return of flying to the likes of Queenstown, Invercargill and Blenheim in the South Island and Rotorua, Gisborne, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Hamilton, Whangarei and Kerikeri in the north,” said the airline’s Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran. “This comes on top of current flights to support essential service travel between Auckland and Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga and Napier, as well as between Wellington-Christchurch, Wellington-Nelson and Christchurch-Dunedin.”
Mr Foran says Air New Zealand will be working closely with Tourism New Zealand, regional tourism organisations, iwi partners and Government agencies like the Department of Conservation to encourage Kiwis to see more of the nation.
The airline says it will not be able to offer its normal cheapest lead in fares during Alert Level 2 Air New Zealand.
“One-metre social distancing means we can only sell just under 50 percent of seats on a turboprop aircraft and just 65 percent on an A320. On that basis, to ensure we cover our operating costs, we won’t be able to offer our lowest lead in fares until social distancing measures are removed,” Foran said.
Air New Zealand will restart services to Taupo, Hokitika and Timaru as demand allows. Additional routes and frequencies will be reintroduced back into the schedule as demand permits and once it is clear exactly when the country will be moving to Alert Level 2.
The airline asks customers with existing bookings who don’t intend to travel to please cancel their bookings and opt in to receive a credit via manage booking on its website or their booking agent to free up seats to allow others to fly.
Before making a booking, customers are also reminded to check the latest information on the travel and transportation section of the Government COVID-19 website and the COVID-19 hub on the Air New Zealand website.
