Up to 26 Air New Zealand engineers could lose their jobs in a proposed merger of technical operations staff.
The airline says it could save $15.5 million over five years. The union representing most of the affected workers says it could be an attack on working conditions and pay across a wide group of engineers.
Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe said the changing shape of the fleet, with newer Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft and more Airbus A320 aircraft, had prompted a review of its technical operations staff.
"These new generation aircraft have a different maintenance profile, which requires us to have the flexibility to deploy engineers where their expertise is needed, whether that's addressing day to day issues in the line environment or working on scheduled maintenance work in our hangars," Fyfe said.
Under the proposal the line maintenance unit would be merged with the aircraft maintenance business. About 1300 staff work in both areas. Staff and union officials were being briefed this week.