Air NZ cuts 400 international crew jobs, more possible

Air NZ's wings have been clipped yet again. It is cutting almost 400 more international crew jobs and is looking to make several hundred other workers on leave without pay officially redundant. The national carrier reported a $454m loss for the year ended June and has slashed 4000 jobs as it struggles to stay in the air after Covid-19 decimated international aviation. Air NZ is burning up to $85m a month just keeping the doors open, and it has started drawing down a $900m government loan. It is also planning a capital raise by mid-2021. CE Greg Foran had hoped there would be a fully-fledged trans-Tasman travel bubble by now. He said without it the airline has been forced to shed yet more staff. "They are our international long-haul crew, and that's come about through us making a decision that the 777s aren't going to be back for some time," Foran said. "Also the fact that international borders that we'd hoped we were going to see some action across the Tasman and Pacific Islands by now hasn't eventuated. So we've got too many, and in light of what we're seeing, we think it's appropriate that we take that action." It leaves Air New Zealand with 205 long-haul crew staff, Foran said. "We've had about 500 on furlough, effectively leave without pay, and that allows us to get that crew back a bit quicker. We're having a discussion with the union around how we handle those crew. Foran said the company is fortunate to have a high performing domestic market. "We're up and running, we're running circa 70 to 80% of pre-Covid volumes. "In terms of outsourcing and whether that happens [in the future] that's a discussion and a decision that once again requires detailed analysis. We don't have any plans to outsource cabin crew at this point."<br/>