Air New Zealand finds a way to avoid the ash cloud
The ash cloud from Chile’s Puyehue- Cordon Caulle volcano continues to spread uncertainty over airline operations in Australia and New Zealand.
Qantas and Jetstar cancelled trans-Tasman flights on Tuesday but Air New Zealand’s domestic and trans-Tasman flights continued to operate to schedule.
AirNZ said it is working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority and Metservice to ensure flight paths continue to avoid areas of ash.
The airline has operated about 1,000 flights and carried more than 50,000 passengers since the ash arrived in New Zealand airspace on Sunday.
Air New Zealand chief pilot and head of safety, Captain David Morgan said, “The authorities are providing excellent information about the ash which is at high altitude and very predictable in its movement.
“By adjusting cruising altitudes of our aircraft we are able to continue to safely deliver customers to their destinations.
“Lower cruising altitudes mean we need to burn around 10% more fuel than normal, but we don’t believe that’s a reason to stop flying when there are perfectly safe flight paths available below the level of the ash.”
In what appeared to be a remark aimed at Qantas, Morgan added, “The travelling public will be pleased to know that almost all carriers including Air New Zealand, Virgin Blue, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Air Asia X, Air Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air and others are today operating international services to and from New Zealand.
“Air New Zealand will not fly through ash and will continue to take guidance from CAA and the Metservice to ensure we can carry passengers where safe routes and altitudes are available.”
Qantas said would not operate services to and from Tasmania and New Zealand on Tuesday as a result of the ash cloud.
Flights to and from Adelaide would remain suspended until 12:30pm local time Tuesday. Flights to and from Melbourne are operating as scheduled.
Jetstar cancelled all trans Tasman and New Zealand domestic flights, excluding Auckland evening flights which are under assessment, for the remainder of Tuesday.
“The Qantas Group's approach to flying is based on the highest standards of safety and risk assessment. Safety is always put before schedule,” an airline spokeswoman said.
Qantas said it would seek to schedule supplementary services to help clear the backlog.
Ian Jarrett
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