Air New Zealand announced Tuesday that it will reduce its flight schedule and increase ticket prices during May and June as ongoing Middle East conflicts continue to drive up aviation fuel costs worldwide.
The carrier revealed that these schedule adjustments will impact approximately 4% of flights and affect 1% of total passengers planning to travel during the two-month period. This represents the second time in nearly four weeks that the airline has made such operational changes.
“Like airlines globally, we’re experiencing jet fuel prices that are more than double what they would usually be,” an Air NZ spokesperson said.
Passengers whose travel plans are affected will receive notifications starting at 2100 GMT Monday, with the airline planning to complete all customer communications by week’s end.
The New Zealand-based carrier previously announced in March, roughly two weeks after the Middle East conflict began, that it would reduce 5% of its flight operations through early May.
Aviation industry experts note that shutdowns at key Middle Eastern airport hubs have created additional challenges for the airline sector beyond rising fuel costs.
