Air New Zealand is making changes to its domestic network and extending its domestic flexibility policy in response to the recent COVID-19 alert level changes around the country.
At 11:59pm tonight, the country south of Auckland moves down to level 3 and the airline is ramping up domestic flights as a result.
"While travel remains very restricted under alert level 3, the extra flights will help transport cargo and essential workers around Aotearoa," Air NZ CEO Greg Foran said.
"We've added several services a week between Christchurch and Dunedin and moved our Wellington-Christchurch flight time to allow for better connectivity.
"While we can't fly as often as we'd like, we're doing everything we can to get people safely to where they need to go."
Foran hopes the changes to the airline's flexibility policy provide assurance to customers who have made plans to travel over the next few weeks.
"We're extending our COVID-19 flexibility policy for domestic travel out to October 31, 2021," he says.
"This means, in addition to allowing a waiver of the change fee, customers can place their booking in credit if their travel plans have changed."
Air NZ's updated schedule:
September 1 - 3:
- Auckland - Christchurch 2 x return services
- Christchurch - Wellington 2 x return services
- Auckland - Wellington 1x return service
- Christchurch - Dunedin 1x return service
- Nelson - Wellington 1x return service
September 4 - 5:
- Auckland - Christchurch 1x return service
- Auckland - Wellington 1x return service
- Dunedin - Christchurch 1x return service
- Auckland - Wellington 1x return service
- Dunedin - Christchurch 1x return service
- Wellington - Nelson 1x return service
- Wellington - Christchurch 1x return service
September 6:
- Auckland - Wellington 1x return service
- Dunedin - Christchurch 1x return service
- Wellington - Nelson 1x return service
- Auckland - Christchurch 2 x return services
- Wellington - Christchurch 2 x return services
During level 3, food and beverage services onboard domestic flights remain suspended, but water is available on request.
Air NZ's lounges, Fast Bag and valet parking remain closed and masks required onboard.
