More than 400 Air New Zealand cabin crew have called off planned industrial action just days before the Christmas travel rush, after reaching an agreement in principle with the airline over pay and employment conditions.
The short-haul cabin crew covering domestic routes as well as flights across the Tasman and the Pacific had been set to strike on 18 December, following months of negotiations that began in April. The action was expected to disrupt peak holiday travel and potentially affect thousands of passengers.
Union E tū confirmed on Tuesday that members had agreed to suspend strike action after talks with the airline made sufficient progress. Assistant national secretary Rachel Mackintosh said negotiations had reached a point where the remaining issues were limited to final wording and documentation.
“The agreement is close enough to being finalised that members felt confident calling off the strike,” Mackintosh said, adding that discussions would continue over the coming week to resolve outstanding details.
Air New Zealand’s Chief People Officer Nikki Dines welcomed the development, saying the airline was pleased to avoid customer disruption during one of the busiest periods of the year.
“Our teams have worked hard to reach an outcome that recognises the essential role our cabin crew play, while also supporting the long-term sustainability of the airline,” Dines said.
The union had previously warned that strike action was a last resort, stressing that cabin crew did not want to disrupt holiday travel but felt left with few alternatives after prolonged bargaining.
“This work is critical to New Zealand’s transport system,” Mackintosh said earlier. “Cabin crew deserve fair conditions to deliver the service passengers rely on.”
A separate strike planned for 8 December had also been called off earlier this month, as negotiations showed signs of progress. At the time, Air New Zealand estimated that strike action across multiple fleets could impact 10,000 to 15,000 customers.
The latest breakthrough highlights ongoing pressure points in aviation workforce negotiations, particularly as airlines balance cost management with employee retention and service reliability during peak demand periods.