Air NZ staff plan strike

More than 40,000 Christmas holiday plans are up in the air — or grounded — after Air New Zealand staff announced a strike on the busiest flying day of the year. Almost a thousand engineers and aircraft logistics staff will strike on Friday, December 21. Air New Zealand is accusing them of using Kiwis’ holiday plans as a bargaining chip. The airline says it will rebook people closer to the time, if it appears the union will follow through. House of Travel’s Brent Thomas says rebooking won’t be so easy, with flights either side already largely booked out.