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Tag: isolation

Air New Zealand Flight NZ993 Carries Samoan Workers to New Zealand

Yesterday’s flight was the last of five Air New Zealand (NZSE: AIR.NZ) services that have transported more than 700 workers from Apia to Auckland over the past six weeks under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) programme.

The airline has transported workers on three charter and two commercial services between Samoa and New Zealand to support a sustainable seasonal labour force for orchards and vineyards in Hawke’s Bay, Canterbury and the upper South Island. Once the workers have completed two weeks of managed isolation, they will disperse around New Zealand to support the country’s horticulture and viticulture industries for the next seven months.

Air New Zealand’s Country Manager Samoa Karen Gatt says the airline’s team based at Faleolo Airport in Apia was excited to see so many travellers and their families arriving at the terminal again when the RSE programme kicked off in January.

New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa, HE Dr Trevor Matheson, has worked closely with the RSE industry and Air New Zealand to enable the workers to travel to New Zealand.

https://www.escape.com.au/destinations/the-essential-guide-to-hawkes-bay-and-napier-new-zealand/news-story/384b46eb67398e716cb6aa6e768ff9d0

Air New Zealand Updates International Schedule Through June

Air New Zealand is extending its COVID-19 international schedule through to 30 June 2021 in response to ongoing travel restrictions and low passenger demand. The schedule aims to keep air links open for essential travel and cargo movement on key trade routes.

Air New Zealand’s General Manager Networks Scott Carr says the airline has been progressively updating its schedule over the past 12 months in response to the global pandemic.

“Our schedule is driven by a number of factors including airport takeoff and landing slots which generally operate on a ‘use it or lose it’ basis. This means if you don’t fly the majority of your schedule you may lose access to airports. We have been waiting to receive slot alleviation for the April to end of June period, which means our regular slot times are protected even if we can’t fly them all. As this is now progressing, we are now able to move ahead with adapting our schedule through to 30 June to better reflect the low demand environment we are currently operating in.”

“We understand these are very uncertain times and it can be tricky for people looking to get home with a lot of things needing to line up including flights, testing and managed isolation bookings. We feel a responsibility to ensure Kiwis can come home and are doing our best to make this happen as smoothly as possible. We strongly recommend customers check government border restrictions for the relevant countries and/or individual passport requirements before booking a ticket.”

The airline’s customer service team is supporting those affected by these changes. Customers booked via a travel agent, including a third-party website (e.g. Expedia, Booking.com) should speak with their agent. Air New Zealand’s dedicated COVID-19 information hub is being updated continuously and customers should check this first, before calling the airline’s contact centre.

The updated schedule from 28 March 2021 to 30 June 2021 is below. There is no change to trans-Tasman services at this stage. All services are subject to change in line with global travel and border restrictions.

Pacific servicesFrequency
Auckland – NadiOne return service per week
Auckland – NiueOne return service per week
Auckland – RarotongaDaily return service
Auckland – SamoaOne return service per week
Auckland – TongaOne return service per week
Sydney – Norfolk IslandThree return services per week
Brisbane – Norfolk IslandThree return services per week
Long haul servicesFrequency
Auckland – Los AngelesTwo return services per week
Auckland – Hong KongTwo return services per week
Auckland – ShanghaiTwo return services per week
Auckland – TokyoOne return service per week
Auckland – SeoulOne return service per month

Air New Zealand Limits Capacity on Inbound International Services

  • Air New Zealand has put a hold on new bookings on international services into New Zealand following a request from the New Zealand Government.

The move is to help ensure the country is able to provide quarantine accommodation for inbound passengers for the required 14-day period.

As well as the temporary hold on new bookings for the next three weeks, the airline is also looking at aligning daily arrivals with the capacity available at managed isolation facilities. This may mean some customers will need to be moved to another flight.

Air New Zealand Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Cam Wallace says the airline has been working closely with the government to understand how it can support the government’s efforts to contain COVID-19 at the border.

“We accept this is a necessary short-term measure given the limited capacity in quarantine facilities and we’re keen to do what we can to help New Zealand’s continued success in its fight against COVID-19.”

The airline is proactively contacting customers affected by these changes from today. The Air New Zealand contact centre is currently experiencing very high demand, and customers are also welcome to contact the airline via its social media channels. Customers booked via a travel agent, including a third-party website (e.g. Expedia, Booking.com) should speak directly with their agent.

Air New Zealand is grateful to customers for their patience while it works through these changes.

Outbound Air New Zealand services from New Zealand to international ports are not affected by the New Zealand Government restrictions. Domestic services are not impacted.

We will update the COVID-19 Information Hub with more information on these changes.

AIRPORT NARITA, TOKYO, JAPAN – 2017/05/06: Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner landing at Tokyo Narita airport. (Photo by Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Air New Zealand Assists with Repatriation Services to and from Fiji

  • Air New Zealand has begun services to and from Nadi, Fiji to assist the Fijian government in repatriating its citizens.

Flight NZ952 took off from Auckland just after 11.00 this morning with Fijian passport holders on board, bound for Nadi, Fiji. The flight arrived in Fiji just after 2.00 pm, local time. A return service is also expected to repatriate New Zealanders who have been in Fiji since Covid-19 travel bans were implemented.

The repatriation flights to Fiji are being carried out in accordance with the Travel Advice issued by the Government of Fiji. On arrival in Fiji, all passengers are required to enter a government-designated quarantine facility for 14 days and will then be required to complete a further 14 days home isolation.

 Air New Zealand’s Country Manager Fiji, Zeena Sahib says the airline is very happy to be supporting the Government of Fiji with the safe return of Fijians to their home country.

 “There are a number of Fijian passport holders who have been in New Zealand for an extended period of time due to COVID-19 related border restrictions. Air New Zealand is very pleased to be assisting the Fijian government with ensuring their safe return home.” 

Customers who wish to travel to Fiji, and who meet border restrictions for entry, are advised to contact Air New Zealand at groups@airnz.co.nz to arrange travel.

Customers already booked on an Air New Zealand flight to Fiji who do not meet entry requirements are encouraged to visit the Covid-19 FAQs section of the Air New Zealand website where they will automatically be able to put their flights into credit.