Air New Zealand has implemented additional service reductions and raised some airfares as it responds to elevated fuel prices linked to the Iran war.
According to a spokesperson, the airline had introduced “a small number of schedule changes for travel across May and June” due to high jet fuel costs.
“These consolidations affect around 4% of flights but only 1% of total passengers due to travel across this period,” the spokesperson said.
The airline also noted further increases to some airfares, with jet fuel prices now “more than double what they would usually be.”
Passengers affected by the changes were set to be notified from 9am Tuesday, with all notifications expected to be completed by the end of the week.
Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford said Air NZ had advised him of “additional temporary reductions” for flights to and from Tauranga.
“For the May and June schedule, they will be consolidating Auckland services by 27 rotations (averaging 4 per week), Wellington services by 30 rotations (averaging 4 per week), and Christchurch services by 10 rotations (averaging 1 per week),” Rutherford said in a Facebook post.
He added that these changes build on earlier reductions already in place from 16 March to 3 May, which included Auckland services being reduced by 31 rotations (averaging just one daily rotation most weeks, while maintaining full capacity during April school holidays), Wellington services down by 21 rotations (about three per week on average), and Christchurch services reduced by 3 rotations.
Air NZ said the measures were a “short-term response” to the current fuel crisis. It previously cancelled 1,100 services and increased flight prices, affecting around 44,000 passengers.