Air NZ to operate skeleton domestic flight network

AIR New Zealand has shrunk its domestic network to just 5% of its former size and cut flights to 15 cities and towns.

The airline will operate a limited domestic schedule from today to enable essential travel only and to keep air freight moving.

It will operate just 47 return flights a week spread among five cities: Auckland,

Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin.

The airline normally operates about 400 domestic flights a day.

It said it could operate ad hoc flights to any part of its network for essential workers at short notice. Air New Zealand chief revenue officer Cam Wallace said domestic travel was still an option but would be extremely limited during Alert Level 4.

‘‘We have updated our schedule to reflect this. In the coming weeks we will be operating a limited number of flights . . . Kiwis are respecting the Government's essential travelonly advice, however, we still ask customers to please check they qualify to travel under the essential services list before booking a ticket or going to the airport.’’

Air New Zealand had also established a process whereby it would operate ad hoc domestic charter flights at the request of the Government.

It had set up a dedicated Covid19 information hub on its website, which it encouraged customers to consult in the first instance.

The airline's domestic schedule while the country is at Alert Level 4 is as follows:

■ AucklandChristchurch using an A320: 3 return services MondayFriday; 1 return service Saturday/ Sunday.

■ AucklandWellington, A320: 1 return service Monday-Sunday.

■ Wellington-Christchurch, Q300: 2 return services MondayFriday; 1 return service Saturday/Sunday.

■ WellingtonNelson, Q300: 1 return service MondayFriday.

■ ChristchurchDunedin, ATR: 1 return service Monday; 1 return service Friday. —