Travel crunch: Warning about Air New Zealand’s busiest day of the year

Air New Zealand says December 23 will be the airline’s busiest day of the year.

The airline wants customers to plan ahead, add extra time, expect delays and be patient with airport staff and flight crew as illness and shortages in the aviation industry coincide with what will be an extraordinarily challenging to fly.

Air New Zealand expects to fly 2.8 million customers across the country and the world this summer as they head to their holiday destinations.

It will carry more than 55,000 customers traveling for holidays on Dec. 23, up from 31,000 or 77% from last year when international borders were closed.

More than 50,000 passengers are also expected to fly on December 15, 16, 22, 27 and 28.

Immediately before the pandemic hit, the airline’s busiest day was just before Christmas, when it carried 60,000 passengers

Leanne Geraghty, Air New Zealand’s chief customer and sales officer, says this will be the first summer in three years that the airline’s entire network is operational and airports are busy.

While it’s great to have more people on the road this year, it does come with some challenges. Flights will be full, with lots of queues and extra baggage. As we prepare for a banner summer, we’re doing everything we can to eliminate the friction, with new aircraft, 2200 more people being hired, 300 airport volunteers and contingency plans in place for disruptions.”

Even with the additional measures taken, the entire airport community will be under pressure, he said.

Airports, security checkpoints and check-in areas will be much busier than usual.

“We ask customers to allow extra time to get to and through the airport they are traveling from and to be as patient as possible as our staff is working to get everyone to their vacation destination,” Geraghty said.

Auckland to Christchurch will be the busiest route this Christmas and the airline is rolling out its new A321neo aircraft to provide as many seats as possible for its customers.

Queenstown will be the busiest regional airport with over 6,000 people passing through on 23 December. The airline asks customers to arrive at least three hours before their flight if traveling overseas and at the latest 60 minutes before their flight if traveling domestically.

Travelers with pets, oversized luggage, or needing special assistance please add a little more time. Customers are also encouraged to take out travel insurance so that they are covered in any unforeseen situations and to sign up for Air New Zealand’s travel alert service in case the airline needs to get in touch with them in the event of an emergency. trip interruption.