Air NZ flight attendants grounded

Photo / Brett Phibbs

Air New Zealand has blasted the behaviour of flight attendants it says are lowering the tone of the airline in the course of their industrial action.

In a terse statement Bruce Parton, Air New Zealand group general manager short haul airlines, said nine staff had been suspended for non-compliance with their strike notice.

That non-compliance included "childish tactics like wearing feather boas, lace gloves, pink wigs and placing stickers on their foreheads and buttocks".

Such attire had the potential to endanger passengers and other staff, Mr Parton said.

"The uniform identifies cabin crew, which is important for safety reasons, as well as the ability to convey authority and professionalism."

The 250 flight attendants are employed by Zeal, a company that supplies Air New Zealand with cabin crew for its A320 services on Pacific and trans-Tasman routes. They are seeking pay equity with crews on Air NZ domestic and long-haul flights.

They took initial action from last Saturday by not following uniform policy, and started refusing standby work from yesterday.

Air New Zealand was increasingly fielding comments from staff and customers embarrassed by the behaviour of some of the Zeal crew, but were grateful to Air New Zealand, Mr Parton said.

The union has given notice of a four-day strike to the end of Easter Saturday.