A Chile-based airline has been prosecuted and charged more than $11,000 for allowing a passenger to board a flight to New Zealand, breaking government orders in doing so.
LATAM Airlines breached Immigration New Zealand's Advance Passenger Processing System, which advises airlines whether a passenger or crew member has the authority to travel to New Zealand.
The breach was in relation to a passenger from Syria who was incorrectly documented by a LATAM Airlines check-in agent in Santiago as being Brazilian in nationality.
The agent's mistake led to a "board with outward ticket" directive.
Even though the worker was then informed by telephone and email from INZ not to let the passenger board, he was allowed to do so.