Air New Zealand capacity adjustment update

Air New Zealand is making further capacity cuts to some of its Asia, Tasman and Domestic New Zealand services through to the end of June as a result of the continuing impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on customer demand.
4 March 2020

Here is the outline of the capacity changes:    

Shanghai

Shanghai services are currently suspended until 29 March as a result of international travel bans. From 30 March, Shanghai services will reduce from seven services per week to a return service every second day through to 6 June. The resumption of this service is dependent on the lifting of international travel restrictions.

Hong Kong

The airline's Hong Kong services, currently operated by Cathay Pacific, will resume on Air New Zealand aircraft on 29 March and will be adjusted from seven return services per week to five return services per week through to 19 April and then to three return services per week until the end of June.

Taipei

Taipei services will reduce from four return services per week to three return services per week in March and April and from three return services per week to two return services per week in May and June.

Singapore

Singapore flights will be adjusted from 14 return services per week to 11 return services per week from 4 May through to the end of June.

Narita

Services to Narita, Japan, will be adjusted from 10 return services per week to seven return services per week from 9 March and to five return services per week in May and June.

Seoul

The Auckland-Seoul service is suspended from 7 March through until the end of June.

Tasman/Domestic

Tasman capacity reduction of 4 percent and Domestic capacity reduction of 2 percent through to the end of June.

Air New Zealand Chief Revenue Officer Cam Wallace says the airline is continuing to manage the impact of the evolving situation with COVID-19.

"Clearly, this outbreak is having an impact on bookings on several routes, particularly our Asian destinations, and we've updated our schedule to reflect this," Mr Wallace says.

"In line with other airlines around the world, we're having to make swift capacity reductions and we appreciate the understanding of authorities in the various ports we fly to as we work through these necessary, short-term changes. We'd also like to thank our customers for their patience in this challenging time."

Air New Zealand will contact customers affected by these changes in the coming week. Customers booked via a travel agent (including online travel agents) will be contacted by their booking agent. The latest information will also be published on the Travel Alerts section of the Air New Zealand website and customers are encouraged to check this, before calling the airline's contact centre. Customers are also welcome to directly message the airline through its social media channels.

Air New Zealand is also introducing change flexibility for all new international flights booked and ticketed from 5 March to 31 March.  

Customers who purchase an international ticket between these dates will have the standard change penalty waived should they need to amend their flight dates, regardless of the number of changes made. The normal fare difference will apply should the same fare/booking class not be available at the time of rebooking and standard Contact Centre service fees will apply.

Customers purchasing domestic tickets should consider Flexidate, Flexitime products should they be concerned about needing to change their travel plans. Standard change and refund rules will remain on all domestic tickets.

Ends

Issued by Air New Zealand Communications.

Email: media@airnz.co.nz  │  Phone: +64 21 747 320  │  Twitter: @AirNZMedia

About Star Alliance

The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognised by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award and Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 19,000 daily flights to more than 1,250 airports in 195 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partner, Juneyao Airlines.

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