Air New Zealand (NZ) has recalled its former staff as the borders have been opened and it is ready to resume flights around the world.
An Air New Zealand spokesman told the Epoch Times that since March 1, 2020, flight attendants, pilots and the entire airport have been rehired a total of about 720 times.
“They are really excited to be back,” said Greg Foran, Air New Zealand CEO. Said Checkpoint.
After the COVID-19 limit lost 95% of the company’s revenue, the airline dismissed approximately 4,500 staff.
“The great thing about it is that we’re seeing a recovery right now. It’s been about 800 days since it started, and we’re excited to get up and running,” Foran said.
However, he said airlines will not yet bring back “a handful” of unvaccinated pilots until there are policy changes still under consideration.
Air New Zealand mandates pilots, crew and other customer-facing employees to be fully vaccinated with COVID-19 by November 14, 2021, one of the first companies in the country. ..
Foran added that he hopes to be able to bring back all the staff who were stuck.
Air New Zealand also announced that it will begin operating its flagship routes from Auckland to New York on September 17.
The announcement was made on the same day that the New Zealand Government announced a significant lift of the COVID-19 restrictions, including vaccine passports, obligations and termination of QR codes.
The 17-hour flight also connects Australian customers with the Big Apple, which Foran calls an exciting move.
“Customers can choose to connect directly to a flight in New York or arrive a few days in advance to explore everything Auckland offers,” he said.
Beginning April 13, vaccinated Australians will be able to travel to New Zealand without isolation, and Air New Zealand is ready to reconnect friends and family across the ditch.
Beginning May 2, the same rules apply to people vaccinated from visa-exempt countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
“Flights across Tasman are especially popular, especially during Easter, with more than 90 flights added to meet the demand during that period.” Foran Said..
However, Easter flights between Australia and New Zealand are more expensive than usual, and Foran said fuel prices are part of the reason.
“It also reminds everyone that fuel prices are at their current location. It’s our responsibility to ensure that even some of these flights get returns,” he said. rice field. “But I’m grateful that the price is pretty high at this point.”
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Rebecca Zhu is based in Sydney. She focuses on local Australian news and New Zealand national affairs. Do you have a hint? Contact her at [email protected]