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Kiwis who return to work today after weeks of confinement are aware of the difference one day makes. But just as our streets begin to get clogged with traffic, so are our skies.
New Zealand’s skies have been relatively empty since the country closed seven weeks ago, but on the first day of Covid-19 Alert Level 2, the first day that kiwis can travel the country again for non-essential reasons, they are comparatively buzzing.
Air New Zealand dramatically reduced its regular flight in response to Covid-19, flying only essential workers domestically and reducing 95 percent of its international capacity. On April 1, the national airline only had one flight that operated across the country during what had been morning rush hour: an ATR-72 from Nelson to Auckland.
FLIGHTRADAR24
The New Zealand skies have become busier on the first day of level 2.
By contrast, on Thursday, a map of Flightradar24 showed that there were dozens of flights operating through the North and South Islands, in addition to those departing and returning to our shores from abroad.
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While some are domestic passenger flights, others belong to flight schools, scenic flight operators, and private owners.
Air New Zealand will operate at approximately 20 percent of its pre-pandemic domestic capacity at Tier 2, compared to approximately 3 percent at Tier 3.
From Auckland, the domestic carrier will fly to Christchurch, Gisborne, Kerikeri, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Tauranga, Wellington, Whāngārei and Queenstown. Services to Dunedin, Rotorua and Blenheim will be introduced starting May 18, May 25 and June 1, respectively.
FLIGHT RADAR
The only empty Air New Zealand plane over the country on April 1.
From Christchurch, the airline will fly to Dunedin, Invercargill, Nelson, Palmerston North, Wellington and Queenstown. Services to Hamilton, Hokitika and Tauranga will begin on May 18, May 25, and June 1.
There are services from Wellington to Blenheim, Gisborne, Hamilton, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Tauranga and, since May 18, Dunedin.
Additional routes and frequencies will be reintroduced on demand, including services to Taupō and Timaru.
Air NZ Chief Executive Greg Foran said last week that even when the country leaves Level 1, there would be fewer flights and reduced frequencies to all domestic destinations.
He also warned bargain hunters that Air New Zealand would not be able to offer their cheapest normal fares at Alert Level 2.
Martin De Ruyter / Things
Air New Zealand flies at just 20 percent of its pre-Covid-19 domestic capacity at Tier 2.
Aviation expert Irene King told Stuff earlier this week that life would continue to be difficult for Air New Zealand at level 2.
“There is total uncertainty in the market, and it appears that the air fares they have put on the market are not really meeting what consumers expected, there is quite a negative response from consumers.”
Disgruntled passengers have been “offended” and “blackmailed” by Air New Zealand’s handling of canceled flights, accusing the airline of “double-dipping” by forcing people to book more expensive flights.
“Airlines are their worst enemies: they have treated us so well for so many years that they expect very cheap airfare, and they have been very cheap, and we hope they will continue to do so,” King said.
“People don’t realize that the world has changed for aviation – it’s a really challenging and difficult business right now, plus it has the restrictions on how much it can transport, so it can’t even break even. load factors
Not for syndication
Sounds Air will fly morning and night during level 2.
“These are commercial companies and, at the end of the day, Air New Zealand has a government guarantee, but that does not mean it cannot go bankrupt.”
On March 20, the government agreed to loan Air New Zealand up to $ 900 million in two tranches over two years, provided the airline met a number of conditions.
“There will be a lot of very gray-haired people at Air New Zealand, but it’s also quite devastating for the rest of the aviation industry. What happened to Air New Zealand will also happen to those regional airlines, and they trade with a profitable knife. on edge and they have smaller planes, and the rules of social distancing apply to them too. “
Sounds Air CEO Andrew Crawford said the airline was feeling a bit more optimistic with level 2 on the horizon.
The 10 Sound Air planes flew to destinations in New Zealand that would not otherwise have an air link, such as Blenheim to Christchurch, Blenheim to Paraparaumu, Wellington to Westport, and Wellington to Taupō.
He made only six flights during level four, but will fly morning and night during level 2.
“We can be a little more optimistic because we are flying nine and 12-seater planes, so it doesn’t take much for them to be half full or a little more, unlike 80-seater planes where a lot of people need it. half full, “said Crawford.
A spokesperson for Queenstown-based Glenorchy Air, which operates scenic flights to Milford Sound, Mt Cook, Mt Aspiring and other locations around the South Island, said the company will resume flights below level 2. The number of flights will depend on demand. said.
