Air NZ suspends Australian check in

3:00 pm

Air New Zealand said this afternoon it had suspended check-in for flights to Australia.

The situation would be reviewed later today.

In a statement the airline said as a result of industrial action taking place at Melbourne airport, it was closely monitoring the situation at all airports to which it flies in Australia.

Those airports are Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Cairns.

The news comes after Prime Minister Helen Clark was airlifted by police helicopter from Melbourne airport today after angry Ansett workers blockaded Air New Zealand planes.

Miss Clark's press secretary David Lewis told the New Zealand Press Association Miss Clark was flown to an Australian Air Force base, but he would not say where.

Miss Clark was taken from the airport on the advice of the Australian Federal Police, Australian Associated Press reported.

Ansett workers took out their anger on the planes belonging to Ansett's parent company Air New Zealand, after the Australian airline was grounded at 4 am today.

The workers backed ground servicing vehicles in behind flight NZ152 which was scheduled to depart for Wellington at 9.40am and flight NZ124 due to leave for Auckland at 1.25pm.

It appeared the handlers took the keys to the vehicles with them which delayed their removal.

Ansett administrators said they had "no other option" but to suspend all flight operations at the troubled airline, affecting 17,000 staff and stranding 45,000 passengers.

Peter Hedge of PricewaterhouseCoopers said the decision to ground the airline group was made with great difficulty, following meetings with numerous parties, including representatives of all key unions.

"It is important to clarify that this action to cease flight operations is due to the lack of necessary cash or facilities to fund the operations."

Meanwhile, Sydney airport was virtually shut down today after a mass walkout by staff in protest at the grounding of Ansett.




Air New Zealand advises that all customer enquiries can be directed to the following:

Air New Zealand Reservations Call Centre Ph: 0800 737 000 Air New Zealand Customer Relations Ph: 64 - 9 336 2002 / Fax 64 - 9- 336 3966

All enquiries about Ansett Australia operations should be directed to: Pricewaterhouse Coopers Ph: 61-2 8266 0000 or Ansett Australia Public Affairs Ph: 61-3 9623 3450

www.nzherald.co.nz/aviation

www.nzherald.co.nz/travel