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His position on how to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic puts him at odds with the New Zealand government, which is committed to removing the virus from the country.
“The answer is a degree of restraint, I think, and those countries – and cities in Australia’s case – that work through that are likely to end up in a better position,” Foran said.
“In the United States, they recently did a survey there and only half of the people said they would take the vaccine.
“And then of course we have reinfection rates.”
Kiwi-born Foran came to Air NZ after running Walmart in the U.S., landing the position just as the COVID-19 crisis hit.
“I never got to experience Air NZ in anything other than a crisis,” Foran said.
“I am learning a new industry, we are dealing with the biggest crisis that has ever hit that industry, and the government owns 52 percent of the company.
“The combination of those things has made this as challenging as any role I’ve ever had.”
Foran said international travel will be “clunky” when he returns and that travel to destinations like the United States is unlikely before the end of 2021.
Since February, Air NZ has laid off 4,100 of its approximately 12,000 employees. Last month it posted a loss of NZ $ 454 million, its first loss since 2002.
