Air New Zealand Welcomes Cabin Crew Decision to Join in Mediation

Air New Zealand says the FARSA ( Flight Attendants and Related Services Association) decision to accept mediation to try to avert a 14-hour strike by long-haul cabin crew later this month is a positive step to resolving the current dispute.

The airline received notice that members of the Association employed by Air New Zealand propose to strike from 00.00 hours on Wednesday November 27 until 14.00 hours on the same day. The routes likely to be affected will be morning flights to Australia and Asia.

The airline's Senior Vice President, Customer Services, Brendan Fitzgerald, says a first offer of mediation was made last Friday prior to receiving the notice of strike on Tuesday. This initial offer was rejected by the Association, but he says it is heartening that the second offer has been accepted.

Air New Zealand says its main focus at this point is to work towards a resolution of the dispute to ensure passengers' travel plans are not disrupted. The airline has begun contingency planning to establish the degree of disruption the strike action will cause if it goes ahead and to find ways to minimise it.

The independent mediation is set down for Monday, November 18.