Air New Zealand has laid off it’s entire B777 staff and some of their B787 staff. The airline plans to keep it’s entire 777 fleet grounded until at least April next year.
Newshub reports that mid to long haul crew will reduce to 583, down from 1533. Inflight service managers will be cut to 70, down from 87 with the amount of deputy service managers being cut to 70, down 2. Flight attendants will be reduced to 443, down from 514. All flight service managers, inflight service coordinators, flight attendant premium services and Pacific class cabin crews will be made redundant.
The airline currently has 8 777-200ER, 8 777-300ER and 15 787-9 aircraft in it’s fleet.
The New Zealand government has already given the airline $NZ72.3 million ($43.4 million, £34.8 million €40.09 million) in wage subsidies and a $NZ900 million ($541 million, £434 million, €499 million) loan.
Chief Revenue Officer Cam Wallace told a webinar earlier this week the airline’s demand profile is currently at 1% while operating a bare bones schedule. Mr Wallace tweeted yesterday saying the day’s sales was only enough to fill 1 A320.
Air New Zealand also told media it had no plans to operate domestic services in Australia if Virgin Australia collapses. The Guardian Australia reported earlier this week that “[t]here has also been speculation in [Australian] government circles that a foreign airline might swoop on Virgin Australia.” Others have also speculated Air New Zealand could step in in the event of a Virgin collapse.
https://twitter.com/CamWallace_NZ/status/1250567291562889216
https://twitter.com/CamWallace_NZ/status/1249473541688274945