Air NZ asks staff to volunteer at airports

Air New Zealand is seeking workers to volunteer in their own time to help out at its shortstaffed airport teams during the busy school holiday period.

A recent message sent to Air New Zealand staff in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch said with a huge amount of flights over the next two weeks the airline was looking at how it could ease some strain on its airports teams.

‘‘Like our flights, your wonderful skills are in demand,’’ the message said.

‘‘We’re looking for some wonderful willing Air New Zealand volunteers who can help us to spread some magic with our customers during the school holiday period [now through to July 25] at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch airports.

‘‘This will need to be in your own time or with manager’s approval and we hope you can come help out.’’

Volunteers would work to support airport teams with queue management, directing customers, ‘‘surprise and delight’’, and help reduce the stress of travel for customers, it said.

Last week the airline said it was gearing up for its busiest July school holiday period since the Covid-19 pandemic started, with more than 672,000 customers booked to travel domestically and overseas.

It warned customers to expect disruptions due to its network operating at or near capacity, a high level of staff sickness and bad winter weather.

Air New Zealand group general manager airports Chloe Surridge said Air New Zealand was experiencing higher than usual staff sickness due to seasonal illnesses and Covid-19, and it was a challenging time for everyone.

‘‘To help alleviate some of the pressure on our frontline teams we put a call out for volunteers to help in our busy airports,’’ Surridge said.

‘‘This opportunity, which we have also offered in the busy summer holidays, allows people from across the business to help out their colleagues and experience another part of the airline.’’

Typically, volunteers worked a few hours in the early morning or evening peak travel times to help customers with check-in kiosks, bag drop and finding their way around the airport, she said.

‘‘We get volunteers from all over the business including our senior leaders and office-based teams.’’

Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch were the busiest ports over this period, she said.