Air NZ tries to reduce impact of strike

Air New Zealand is preparing to minimise the impact of strike action planned for next week that will affect 14,000 international passengers.

The airline yesterday met the Flight Attendants and Related Services Association (Farsa) - which represents most international flight attendants - to resolve issues with pay and health and safety.

"There was no outcome [yesterday]," said Farsa industrial officer Heather Stanley. "At this point the strike notice still remains in place but we are still committed to negotiations and are hopeful it won't come to a strike."

But last night Air NZ launched a contingency plan to minimise the impact of the action, in which more than 1000 union members will walk off the job for 48 hours from midnight on July 18 and then return to work for 24 hours.

They will repeat this process on July 21 and July 24.

Air NZ International general manager Ed Sims said the action would cancel between 15 and 20 international flights per day, including flights to Australia, the Pacific islands, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taipei. Some flights to Los Angeles via the Pacific Islands may also be affected.

"We have no option but to implement a contingency plan." he said.

The plan will see 70 per cent of long haul flights operate over the six days of the strike, with no impact on domestic services.

Mr Sims said the dispute involved pay, meal allowances and annual leave, adding up to a formal claim of $14.2 million over three years, the length of the collective contract negotiation cycle.

* From 9am today, to check cancelled flights visit the website below or call 0800 737 000.