As a result, eight new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and the retrofitted current 787-9 fleet will have either eight or four Business Premier Luxe seats, 42 or 22 Business Premier, 52 or 33 Premium Economy, 125 or 213 Economy seats, and six Skynest sleep pods on long-haul flights.
Geraghty says: “When our new Dreamliners arrive from 2024, we will give customers more choices than any airline in the world, with a suite of seven seat experiences.
“But it isn’t just about a seat, it’s the whole flying experience. Air New Zealand has an ambition to create the greatest flying experience on Earth and we believe the new cabin, combined with world-leading Kiwi hospitality, is the winning formula.”
London – At the start of April, baggage handlers at Heathrow Airport planned a walkout after being told that their pay would be frozen. This came amid revenue growth for their employer, Vanderlande Industries. Although the strike, arranged by the Unite union, was postponed following a pay offer, Heathrow could witness more walkouts over the months ahead.
As of 18 May, British Airways workers – mostly airport check-in and ground staff – are being balloted for industrial action. The issue in contention is a 10% pay cut they faced during the pandemic, which has yet not been reinstated. If they vote in favour, strike action would take place over the summer holiday period, with a view to causing maximum disruption.
“BA has now restored the pay of managers but has kept the cut for these workers. This is why our members have voted overwhelmingly to proceed to strike action. This is about paying the rate for the job,” said Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary.
Amsterdam – On 23 April, ground personnel at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport staged a walkout. The unannounced strike, by KLM baggage handlers, came in protest over poor working conditions. It caused widespread chaos, particularly since it was the start of the school holidays and Schiphol was already experiencing staff shortages.
Passengers were urged to stay away from the airport, with authorities declaring “the terminal is too full at the moment”. Over the subsequent four days, 150 KLM flights were cancelled.
“We do not expect the staff shortage to be resolved before the summer, but we do expect the quality of employment and the wellbeing of current employees to be protected,” said Joost van Doesburg, campaign leader at the Dutch union, FNV.
Warsaw – In late April, Warsaw airport narrowly averted thousands of flight cancellations, after air traffic control unions struck an eleventh-hour deal with the Polish authorities. Again, the dispute was around pay and working conditions. Air traffic controllers had seen their salaries slashed during the pandemic, sometimes by as much as 70%. Many had threatened to quit, rather than comply with new working regulations they claimed threatened safety.
In an agreement that will last only till July 10th, the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) agreed they would pay the workers the same salaries as pre-pandemic. Time will tell what happens over the longer term, but negotiations are set to continue.