Coronavirus: Air NZ proposes to make 387 pilots redundant, union says

Air NZ is laying off 387 pilots as part of a wider move to reduce its workforce by at least 3750 to make it through the coronavirus pandemic. Like most airlines around the world Air New Zealand has been hammered by the deadly coronavirus outbreak. The New Zealand Air Line Pilots' Association (NZALPA), which represented 1520 Air NZ pilots, said it was told by Air NZ that it proposed to make 387 pilots redundant. NZALPA president Andrew Ridling said it was deep in negotiations with the airline on Tuesday morning. "As we have been working closely with the airline over the past three weeks, NZALPA will continue to negotiate on getting this number reduced and finalising the agreement process." It is understood an email outlining pilot job losses was sent to staff on Monday evening and mostly first and second officers were affected. Ridling said NZALPA would fight to ensure there was a clear and transparent path back to Air New Zealand for all pilots who chose to return. "NZALPA is adamant that 387 redundancies is not a final number. Now we continue the robust and thorough consultation process required under the Employment Relations Act and our specific collective agreement." An Air NZ spokeswoman would not comment on pilot redundancies specifically but said it had entered into a consultation process on Monday to reduce the size of the workforce by up to 3500 roles.<br/>