Air New Zealand cuts 5% of its flights, jobs could go

Air New Zealand has cut 5 percent of flights and will start to consolidate other routes after the July school holidays customers, chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar has told Checkpoint.

It comes as the airline is expecting a full-year pre-tax loss of between $340 and $390 million due to the soaring cost of jet fuel.

Ravishankar gave an example of two half-full planes being one flight. The impacted flights would be in the middle of the day or other "non-peak" flying times.

International routes would be cut, but the company is still working on that and will let people know in June.

A previously planned London route will not take off next year.

Ravishankar said they're working out demand forecasts and that was difficult - in the current environment with fuel prices being high.

The majority of the cost cutting being targeted is not jobs, but roles could be cut.

Losses would not be to front line staff but support staff.

Ravishankar said the airline was not looking for any financial assistance from the government.

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