Regular service hasn’t exactly resumed but it is a good start and positive news for importers and exporters, Air NZ cargo general manager Rick Nelson said.
The flights are being booked under the airline’s new multi-party charter agreements catering for small and medium-sized exporters and importers, helping them move their goods while reducing risk.
“By working together with a freight forwarder a coalition of exporters and importers could consolidate their shipments to purchase a single 12-cubic-metre unit on the aircraft,” Nelson said.
Some flights could also be partially underwritten by the Government’s $330 million scheme to ensure critical airfreight capability is maintained.
The first such flight carried high-value seafood, honey and day-old chicks. Returning flights will generally carry essential goods and equipment, including medicines.
Air NZ is also working on reinstating services to Australia, the United States, Canada and Asia.
There is also a possibility of starting a service into Hong Kong, he said.
GVI Logistics commercial director Peter Wales said it is positive news for exporters.
“Industries like seafood need confirmed, reliable schedules to operate.”
For those international freight routes Air NZ is also understood to have made its prices as competitive as possible though the residual domestic schedule has retained pre-pandemic prices on the back of scarce capacity.
On that basis, local freight forwarders will be on the hook for full payment inside 72 hours of the flight. – BusinessDesk
