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Air New Zealand has submitted more than 180,000 low fares to mark the end of the physical distancing requirement on aircraft.
As of today, physical distancing will no longer be required on public transportation and airplanes, but the use of masks remains mandatory, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran said today’s announcement enabled the airline to offer more seats at cheaper prices.
“We are delighted to be able to offer 160,000 of these rates for less than $ 50, with 9,000 of these available during the upcoming school holidays,” he said.
“This is our way of thanking our clients for their support over the past few months.
“While our borders are closed, we know that Kiwis are eager to get out and explore or visit friends and family, so we want to make travel as easy as possible, and this is great news for local tourism too.”
The airline is also eliminating exchange fees for domestic flights booked for travel through March 2021.
New rules for airplanes, explanation of public transport
Ardern has announced the immediate reduction of physical distancing, while the country’s Covid-19 alert levels remain the same until a review next Monday.
As of today, airlines, buses and train operators do not need to maintain any seating restrictions, but wearing masks will remain mandatory, he said.
The Government has decided to extend Alert Level 2.5 in Auckland and also keep the rest of the country at Alert Level 2.
Ardern said his expectation from the airlines was that the physical distancing would still take place while loading and unloading passengers, but that it could be alleviated while on board the plane.
“The use of masks will continue.”
Ardern said the regional boundary around Auckland has “posed a lot of challenges” and that it was better to allow regional travel and maintain Level 2 restrictions in the rest of the country for now.
The change in physical distancing on airplanes and public transportation was based on health advice, he said.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said that with the use of face coverings, our updated advice is that physical distancing should be maintained whenever possible.
However, it is not required either on domestic flights or on public transport such as trains, buses and ferries, they said /
The spokesperson said: “Reports indicate that public transport passengers are taking the use of face covers seriously and regularly scan QR codes on all forms of transport. This, along with the issuance of electronic tickets on airlines, it means that we can contract the tracking quickly if necessary. “
“The warning from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transport for the recommended seating configuration in public transport that promoted physical distancing has now been revoked, effective immediately.
“People should continue to observe physical distancing whenever possible.”
The New Zealand Aviation Coalition says the removal of physical distance seating requirements on airplanes was big news for airlines.
It paved the way for airlines to fill their planes. For travelers, this will mean more available seats, more flights and affordable fares to choose from, said co-chair Justin Tighe-Umbers.
“With the school holidays approaching, many more Kiwis will now be able to go out into the country, visit loved ones or go on vacation.”
It was a pragmatic decision by the Health Ministry that recognized that mandatory masks for all on board and existing airline measures will keep travelers safe.
“The removal of alert level 2 seating restrictions means that the national network can continue to operate without losing up to three-quarters of normal capacity, making it impossible for airlines to keep up,” he said.
Economic activity has recovered since Auckland’s shift to level 2.5, showing that people have adjusted well and further proof that the best step towards a healthy economy is a health-based approach, he said.
