LATAM Airlines fined by New Zealand for violating immigration procedures
New Zealand’s immigration authorities have slapped a South American airline with a fine for allowing an unauthorised passenger to travel despite being warned not to.
LATAM Airlines was fined $11,700 plus court costs for violating NZ’s immigration law.
The airline boarded an unauthorised Syrian national even after Immigration New Zealand instructed the airline not to.
INZ’s national manager, Border, Senta Jehle, said it was the third time the airline had been prosecuted and was the seventh time it had ignored a ‘do not board’ directive.
"INZ takes this type of offending very seriously as airlines have a vital role to play in maintaining the integrity of New Zealand’s immigration system and keeping the border secure," Jehle said.
"In this case the airline completely ignored the instruction from INZ not to board the passenger and we were left with no alternative but to take prosecution action."
The offence dated back to November 2015 and the passenger was removed from New Zealand the same day he arrived.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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