Hijinks a blow for all Air NZ staff, says boss
Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon says the leaked videos and pictures of staff behaving badly on social media have let down the whole company.
‘‘Our obvious concern is that the behaviour displayed is a clear breach of our code of conduct and more importantly has let down 11,000 hard-working Air New Zealanders,’’ he said.
A spokeswoman said the investigation was continuing.
Air New Zealand said on Tuesday it was ‘‘shocked and appalled’’ by the images, which showed a pilot posing with a blow-up doll inside a Q300 regional aircraft. Another video showed a flight attendant moving through the cabin spitting water.
The airline launched an investigation after the images were brought to its attention, saying it expected the highest standards of behaviour from its staff.
Dundas Street Employment Lawyers partner Blair Scotland said given the seriousness with which the company was treating the matter, the images could end the careers of those involved.
However, the type of disciplinary action taken, which could include firing staff, would depend on factors including the national carrier’s policies, when and how these images were captured, how they came into the public eye, and what the employees thought they were doing at the time.
‘‘I always say to people that if you’re not prepared to put the picture or statement on a billboard, then don’t put it on social media,’’ Scotland said. ‘‘That is the lesson people should learn from this – nothing on social media is truly private, and that embarrassing picture, video or post will invariably come out.’’
Meanwhile, the New Zealand Air Line Pilots’ Association says it is too early to comment on Air New Zealand’s investi- gation into inappropriate images of uniformed staff members posted online.
NZALPA general manager Dawn Handforth said yesterday the union was aware of the issue and was prepared to give support to the airline and any pilot member. But this would be as required, once all facts were established.
‘‘At this stage, it is not appropriate for us to comment on behalf of Air New Zealand employees.’’
Aviation expert Irene King said the situation was ‘‘bizarre’’ and like nothing she had seen: ‘‘It just doesn’t typify the carrier or the people who work there.’’
It was ‘‘gutting’’ to have this happen to an airline that has worked so hard to build a positive image and especially disappointing given the positive news over the weekend involving the Air New Zealand staff who went out of their way to look after a passenger whose father had just died.
However, King said that unless more incidents like this arose, the airline should recover fairly quickly.
The union representing flight attendants has been approached for comment.
One of the staff members in the images no longer worked for Air New Zealand, while the other two have been removed from duties pending the outcome of the airline’s investigation.
‘‘It goes without saying that this is a situation we are treating with extreme seriousness, and our obvious concern is that the behaviour displayed is a clear breach of not just our code of conduct but basic decency,’’ an Air New Zealand spokeswoman said.