Air NZ 'becoming Air Auckland'

Andrew Little of the EPMU says Christchurch is getting a raw deal. File picture / Brett Phibbs

Air New Zealand is increasingly becoming "Air Auckland" after the latest round of possible Christchurch job cuts at the airline, a union says.

The airline was reported today to be closing its Christchurch call centre with the loss of 86 jobs. This move follows the possible loss of up to 1700 jobs in the airline's airport services division, which was announced earlier this week.

Andrew Little from the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union said Christchurch had been taking a battering from Air New Zealand.

"I'd be surprised if people in Christchurch weren't beginning to wonder whether Air New Zealand was retreating from Christchurch in so many ways, it was actually becoming Air Auckland," he told Newstalk ZB.

Mr Little said he also suspected Air New Zealand was just going through the motions of consultation.

The Dominion Post reported today that the Christchurch call centre could close as early as March next year. A final decision on its future would be made on November 3.

The work would be picked up by two call centres in Auckland.

One analyst said that while the airline needed to boost earnings before tax by $100m a year to remain competitive in a fast-changing airline industry, it needed to be careful with its image.

The airline yesterday said it had advised unions representing 1675 airport services staff that it would hold a 58-day consultation process on the future of the airport services division.

Most workers were expected to be employed by a new contractor if the work was outsourced.

Air New Zealand human resources manager Vanessa Stoddart said the airline would share details of efficiency improvements that a third-party supplier believed it could achieve.

Mr Little said the airline was looking to reduce staff at the potential cost of its own image and safety. Staff were stressed and anxious and already doing overtime to keep up with work requirements.

Service and Food Workers' Union spokeswoman Jill Ovens said workers did not want wages and penal rates and allowances changed as the airline demanded.

If Air New Zealand followed the overseas trend of turning into a virtual airline, the outcome could be to bring down the airline, she said. Having staff wearing the koru or Air New Zealand uniform who were actually working for a foreign company would "cause such damage to the brand" it could be destroyed, she said.

- NZPA