Air New Zealand suspends new bookings to Australia

Name: Focus Live: Air NZ boss on Covid-19, refunds and the future of the industry
Uploaded: 2020-07-23T10:31:48+12:00
Duration: 204 s
Description: Air NZ Chief Executive Greg Foran warned that many airlines were running out of cash. "My best guess... is that a third of the airlines that we see today will disappear, if this carries on into next year."

By Grant Bradley

Deputy Editor - Business·NZ Herald·

28 Jul, 2020 11:53 PM2 mins to read

Air NZ Chief Executive Greg Foran warned that many airlines were running out of cash. "My best guess... is that a third of the airlines that we see today will disappear, if this carries on into next year."

Air New Zealand has put a hold on any new bookings to Australia until the end of August to minimise further disruption for passengers.

It follows an announcement of a further pause in inbound bookings for a further two weeks revealed on Monday.

The airline today said that due to Australian government restrictions it has put a hold on further bookings to Australia until August 28.

Australia has a cap of 30 passenger arrivals per flight into Sydney and Brisbane in place. International passenger arrivals into Melbourne are not currently permitted to August 8.

Air New Zealand chief commercial and customer officer Cam Wallace said while the government restrictions are in place until August 8, the airline is placing a hold on future bookings to help prevent disruptions to customer journeys should these restrictions be extended.

"We know there are people wanting to head home to Australia at this time and we'll be ready to fly them as soon as we are able to accommodate more passengers."

The airline said earlier this week it has again extended the freeze on all new bookings for international flights coming into the country until August 9.