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Air New Zealand has called up its entire A320 crew who have been on leave.
Air New Zealand is recalling 175 cabin crew who have been on Covid-related leave, as it prepares for travel bubbles without quarantine.
It was announced on Monday that the governments of New Zealand and Australia had agreed in principle to open a non-quarantine travel bubble by the end of the first quarter of 2021. It came two days after a similar announcement was made about a bubble between New Zealand and Cook Islands. done.
Air New Zealand says it is beginning the process of retiring all A320 cabin crew members currently on license, in preparation for round-trip bubbles in early 2021.
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The crew members have been on leave since June, having chosen to stay connected to the airline rather than take layoff.
More than 4,000 Air New Zealand workers have been out of work since the start of the pandemic as the national carrier contracted 30 percent in an effort to overcome the crisis.
Air New Zealand Cabin Crew General Manager Leeanne Langridge said it was exciting to be able to offer cabin crew a position back with the airline.
“We know this crew is really looking forward to getting back on board, so it has been comforting to make these phone calls before Christmas,” Langridge said.
“Their uniforms are ready to be picked up and I’m sure many of them are eager to wear the koru again.”
Some members of the cabin crew had volunteered and worked in other industries while on leave, he said.
“They will now undergo comprehensive refresher training before flying again.”
The news comes a day after New South Wales registered three new cases of Covid-19 in the community.
They are the first cases of community transmission since December 3 and two of the cases are not yet linked to other known cases.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has previously said that one of the requirements for opening a trans-Tasman bubble was 28 days without community broadcasting.
