Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Air New Zealand's Pacific islands flight schedules will not be disrupted as 17 of its aircrafts are checked for possible microscopic cracks in the engine fans, a senior executive of the airline says.
At any time when the checks are being carried out, Air New Zealand could have up to four planes out of action.
Air NZ short haul general manager Jeremy O'Brien said the airline would reallocate flights for the Pacific routes so that it could operate at or above current capacity.
"The good news for the [Pacific islands] is that we've actually taken the decision to protect all of that capacity on our Pacific Islands routes," O'Brien said.
"In many cases, over the April to October period, which is the first big impact period we'll be growing capacity versus what we're currently selling.
"The reason we've done that is we know that the capacity build-back on those markets has been challenged across the industry and so we want to ensure we're maintaining adequate services in the Pacific Islands as we work through this."
O'Brien expects Pacific flights to get cheaper in the first half of next year.
"We believe that as we add this capacity in, and if demand stays kind of similar to where it is at the moment, then that should see an easing of pricing over time from April onwards, because the dynamics of the market will start to free up a little bit," he said.
He said Pacific islands had been popular and other airlines had pulled back services when borders re-opened, driving up ticket prices.
He said Air NZ was "really conscious of pricing" and in most instances had Pacific flights back to pre-Covid-19 capacity levels.
"From our point of view, we're always looking to provide options and affordability in lead-ins.
"Our lead-in fares start from around NZ$295 one way in most Pacific Island markets.
"But it is fair and true that in the peak periods, particularly during things like the Christmas period... that peak period pricing is still relatively high."
'We reach out to the customers and advise them of the retiming if there is a retiming of their flight and any changes' - Greg Foran
The airline's chief executive Greg Foran told Morning Report most customers across all the airline's services would still fly on the same day, but some on international flights will move a day either side of their original booking.
Foran told Morning Report about 329,000 people would see little to no impact between now and April, but almost half would be affected in other ways which could include a different plane or seat changes.
"About 150,000 people will see a change and that may be a slight retiming on the flight that could be anything from sort of an hour to a day, and we'll offer those people an opportunity to get to where they want to or if they doesn't suit them anymore, a refund," Foran said.
Direct flights from Auckland to Hobart and Seoul would also be paused from April 2024.