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Jetstar will resume flights starting Thursday, while Air New Zealand is offering more than 180,000 of its cheapest fares, in response to changes in physical distance requirements.
Photo: Supplied / Christchurch International Airport / Port Hills Productions
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced this afternoon that, while alert levels remain unchanged, physical distancing requirements on airplanes and public transport will be relaxed.
“As of today, public transport operators, including airlines, buses and trains, do not need to maintain seating restrictions or passenger capacity limits at level 2,” he said.
“The use of masks will continue to be mandatory and has been key in the recommendation of the CEO that this change is certain to occur.”
The Health Ministry said that people should keep a distance if possible and maintain good hygiene practices, such as washing their hands regularly.
Air New Zealand responded to the announcement by launching 180,000 of its “cheapest fares” at all 20 ports. These include 160,000 fees under $ 50, 9,000 of which are available during the upcoming school holidays.
Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran said the cheaper airfares were a way of thanking New Zealanders for their support.
“We had been planning physical distancing until the end of this week, so this news allows us to immediately make those seats available to those who want to travel in the next few days.”
The airline also eliminated exchange rates for domestic flights reserved for travel until March 31, 2021. This means that customers can change their flights to a new date or time or put their rate on credit to use at another time.
Jacinda Ardern Announces Cabinet Decision to Keep Auckland at Alert Level 2.5 and Rest of Country at Level 2
Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon
Jetstar has also announced that it will resume domestic flights starting Thursday, following a four-week suspension.
It will resume up to 75 flights on six domestic routes, about 60 percent of its pre-Covid schedule.
Return flights are between Auckland and Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington and Queenstown, Christchurch to Wellington and Wellington to Queenstown.
Jetstar Group CEO Gareth Evans thanked customers for their patience and support over the past few weeks.
“We are excited that our planes and our people are back in the sky, just in time for school holidays, so we can help reconnect family and friends across the country,” Evans said.
“New Zealanders love exploring their own backyard; the recovery in demand after our previous suspension was really strong. We know Kiwis are as excited as we are to get back on the air to visit loved ones or discover a new part. of this incredible country “.
Metlink said the move would mean capacity would return to normal on Wellington’s public transport network.
Numbers in the city have been at about 70 percent of pre-Covid levels below alert level 2.
Ardern said it was important that the use of masks continue to be applied in airlines “because that has been a key part of the decision and the advice of the CEO.
“What we want to see is that when we are loading passengers, making sure to maintain the physical distance for loading and disembarking, because that’s where you start to see the congestion.”
