Post by vgp on Jun 17, 2008 12:32:11 GMT 12
Air NZ staff may be moved
By WARWICK RASMUSSEN - Waikato Times | Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Air New Zealand is looking at relocating its 18 Hamilton-based cabin crew to Auckland or Christchurch, but says the cost-cutting move won't affect passengers flying to and from the Waikato.
The company's Tasman Pacific general manager, Glen Sowry, said the number of Hamilton-based flight attendants was once as high as 70, at the height of Freedom Air's popularity, but had fallen to fewer than 20.
"It used to make economic sense to have cabin crew in Hamilton, but that was when we had the numbers to support it.
"Over the last couple of years there have been a lot of changes and there has been an attrition of (cabin crew) numbers."
Mr Sowry said it was at the point where it was difficult to find replacement staff at the last minute if a few staff members were sick and couldn't make their flights.
A typical cabin crew shift from Hamilton involved "out and backs" (return flights), Mr Sowry said, but the proposed changes would add extra hours for affected crews.
He said despite that setback the "efficiencies" of having cabin crews in fewer locations was still favourable to the national carrier. Warwick Rasmussen
www.stuff.co.nz/waikatotimes/4587005a6579.html
By WARWICK RASMUSSEN - Waikato Times | Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Air New Zealand is looking at relocating its 18 Hamilton-based cabin crew to Auckland or Christchurch, but says the cost-cutting move won't affect passengers flying to and from the Waikato.
The company's Tasman Pacific general manager, Glen Sowry, said the number of Hamilton-based flight attendants was once as high as 70, at the height of Freedom Air's popularity, but had fallen to fewer than 20.
"It used to make economic sense to have cabin crew in Hamilton, but that was when we had the numbers to support it.
"Over the last couple of years there have been a lot of changes and there has been an attrition of (cabin crew) numbers."
Mr Sowry said it was at the point where it was difficult to find replacement staff at the last minute if a few staff members were sick and couldn't make their flights.
A typical cabin crew shift from Hamilton involved "out and backs" (return flights), Mr Sowry said, but the proposed changes would add extra hours for affected crews.
He said despite that setback the "efficiencies" of having cabin crews in fewer locations was still favourable to the national carrier. Warwick Rasmussen
www.stuff.co.nz/waikatotimes/4587005a6579.html
