Covid 19 coronavirus transtasman bubble pause: Board of Airline Representatives pushes for wage help

An airline group says aviation businesses affected by the suspension of quarantine-free transtasman travel should be able to claim wage support. Air New Zealand said the pause is expected to have a short-term operational and financial impact on its business until such time as the bubble reopens. "The airline will respond to these changes and will provide a further update, if needed, as the situation progresses," it told the NZX. The Board of Airline representatives says the eight-week pause comes as many airline staff had been re-hired. "It's tough. This could see a lot of people put back on reduced hours and pay, or going into furlough again," board executive director Justin Tighe-Umbers said. "I'd like to see the Government offer wage assistance to those parts of the sector that are going to be hit hardest until quarantine-free travel with Australia is reinstated."<br/>