Covid-19 Delta outbreak: Editorial - Air NZ flight cancellations an ominous sign for Christmas

Clouds still hang over travellers trying to book flights in and out of Auckland. File photo

EDITORIAL:

Public anger over Air New Zealand's decision to cancel flights early in December was understandable and a further reflection of the frustration Kiwis are feeling right now.

But both the airline and the Government, still a majority shareholder with a 52 per cent stake, could have handled the situation much better as the approach to Christmas gets bumpier by the day.

Air New Zealand made the call itself that travel to and from Auckland was unlikely before December 6 so it cancelled flights to give people more time to rebook at a later date.

The company cited alert level uncertainty for the decision and is certainly not alone as a business feeling that way at the moment.

The problem, though, was that some customers found flights still in the system are much more expensive. And there is still great uncertainty over domestic travel in the near future.

This is of particular to concern for those such as university students desperately trying to get back to their homes for Christmas. But also thousands of others trying to make plans for summer.

The airline should have communicated its decision much more openly and ensured that the process was as fair as possible.

The circumstances are of course unusual - and it's increasingly likely that this Christmas is going to be like no other for many New Zealanders.

The situation is incredibly fluid, as evidenced by the two new cases detected in Christchurch yesterday .

But the vagueness of the Government's plan to re-open Auckland's borders isn't helping.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said in media interviews that Kiwis with vaccine certificates "should" be able to travel in and out of Auckland by Christmas. Anyone leaving Auckland will also need to have tested negative for Covid-19.

Given the Government's dithering on rapid antigen testing – a trial is only just being rolled out now – and the massive queues at testing stations early in the Delta outbreak, this is not exactly reassuring.

Asked yesterday if the Government had told Air New Zealand something the public hadn't yet been told, a spokesperson for Covid Response minister Chris Hipkins pointed to the Prime Minister's remarks last Friday.

"The Government is actively exploring domestic travel possibilities once Auckland moves to the new framework. This is part of work now underway to develop detailed information about the Covid-19 Protection Framework, with Cabinet to review vaccination progress on November 29 and further announcements to follow."

For its part, Air New Zealand remains caught in the same limbo it's been in across various parts of its business since the pandemic started.

At the company's annual shareholders' meeting yesterday chairman Dame Therese Walsh wasn't able to provide any guidance, either for revenue or cash burn. Any return to dividend payments is also too hard to predict.

"While external uncertainties continue to be frustrating, we are focused on controlling those things we can," Walsh said.

Meanwhile, costs continue to rise - including the price of fuel – which will inevitably lead to higher airfares both domestically and internationally when overseas travel resumes at some point.

All the New Zealand public and businesses really want from the Government is greater transparency, better targets and dates and a workable plan.