Air New Zealand domestic network busiest since before Covid-19

Air New Zealand is into its busiest week on its domestic network since before the Covid-19 pandemic, operating at about 85 per cent of what it was this time last year.

That level of flying makes it one of the busiest domestic networks behind China, which recovered around the middle of the year.

Air New Zealand will carry about 170,000 passengers on its domestic network this week, across 2589 flights. The recovery has come despite not having international visitors on the domestic network, which accounted for up to 30 per cent of travellers.

The busiest day is expected to be Christmas Eve, with the airline operating more than 420 flights – the most popular route being Auckland to Christchurch.

Air New Zealand group general manager airports Chloe Surridge said it had been a challenging year but it was great to see so many people taking a well-deserved break.

"Operationally, it takes a lot of work to get our customers to their holiday destinations on busy days like these. All of our teams, from flight planners right through to our airport teams, pilots and cabin crew, are working hard to connect customers with friends and family this festive season," Surridge said.

Surridge said because airports were busier during this time and customers were encouraged to allow more travel time to get to the terminal and should check in for their flight via the Air New Zealand app so they can keep up to date with the latest information on their flight.

Some domestic ports were operating at 70 per cent while others were about 90 per cent. Main trunk routes were busy.

Air New Zealand group general manager airports Chloe Surridge. Photo / Supplied

The airline employs about 1800 staff at airports in front of house roles, on aircraft ramps and in lounges around the world. That's done by about a third from the beginning of the year.

Surridge said not all domestic lounges were open yet and international lounges all remain closed.

At Wellington, the regional lounge is closed.

"It's like a jigsaw puzzle but we're expecting that with the start of business travel next year there will be more, like Wellington regional, that we'll be looking to open."

Around the world, the airline's ground staff faced constant changes to operations, depending on what countries were doing to respond to Covid-19.