44 flights canceled, 16,000 passengers affected! What is the reason for this Air New Zealand strike?

Comprehensive report from New Zealand Chinese Herald Air New Zealand is warning thousands of passengers to prepare for flight delays or cancellations amid an impending strike by its international crew.

Air New Zealand has canceled 44 flights and adjusted its flight schedule ahead of planned strikes by the New Zealand Cabin Crew Association (FAANZ) on Thursday and Friday.

The strike, which will affect most wide-body flights, comes after weeks of negotiations over pay and working conditions with Etū and FAANZ unions.

Air New Zealand chief customer and digital officer Jeremy O’Brien said the strike had forced the cancellation of most long-haul flights to Asia and North America.

He said: “We have actually offered all affected passengers the option to change their flights within two to three days before and after the strike. But not all passengers will be able to accept such an option, and for those passengers, they have the right and should ask for a voucher for future travel or a refund.”

O’Brien described the strike as a “controlled disruption” and said the airline had taken steps to minimize the impact on passengers.

“We have minimized the impact on Tasman Sea and Pacific Island routes because we are able to arrange narrow-body aircraft, which are small jets, to operate these flights. “For long-haul flights, we have alternatives in place, including Air New Zealand flights two to three days before and after, as well as alternative flights from Star Alliance and other partner airlines,” he said.

“We are therefore doing everything we can to reschedule our passengers’ flights as close to their original travel dates as possible.”

Air New Zealand chief human resources officer Nikki Dines said the dispute had been narrowed down to a pay issue.

“The pay increases we are offering range from 4.14 per cent to 6.41 per cent. The unions are still asking for more,” she said.

Dines said the package was for the first year of the proposed two-and-a-half-year deal, with further pay increases in years two and three, and that the company was already offering pay rises above the rate of inflation.

Around 16,000 passengers have been affected by the strike so far, including those with flight cancellations and time changes, all of whom have been given the option to rebook.

“If rebooking is not feasible for them, they are entitled to a refund or voucher.”

Dines confirmed that the next step would be mediated negotiations through the Employment Relations Authority, adding that any further industrial action would require at least 14 days’ notice.

From a union perspective, Air New Zealand Cabin Crew Association (FAANZ) president Craig Featherby said cabin crew had raised expected pay levels during mediation and hoped to achieve higher standards than what Air New Zealand has proposed so far.

“Those percentages sound great. It’s no secret that New Zealand’s overall economy is struggling, with inflation running at 3.1 per cent. However, even so, cabin crew are barely making the living wage this year,” he said.

Featherby said the union was fighting to raise the base wage above the living wage, which was currently just over $60,000, or $28.95 an hour. But ideally they would like a starting salary of $62,000.

Featherby urged passengers not to give up booking flights with Air New Zealand and said both crew and the airline wanted the dispute to be resolved.

“Our members love their jobs. They are Air New Zealand’s safety ambassadors and represent New Zealand to the world. We want our customers to continue to receive excellent onboard service. But we must first get through the next few months and complete the negotiations currently underway.”