Air NZ’s Safe Air cuts 84 jobs in Blenheim
A struggle to attract new international work in the face of a high kiwi dollar as contracts come to an end.
Air New Zealand's aviation maintenance unit Safe Air plans to cut 84 jobs, or about 30 percent of its workforce, citing its struggle to attract new international contracts in the face of a high kiwi dollar, according to a union statement.
The airline confirmed Safe Air may cut about 80 jobs as some long-term contracts come to an end.
"Since 2005, Safe Air has been supporting the significant upgrades of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's C-130 Hercules and P3 Orion aircraft fleets," Air New Zealand says in an emailed statement.
"As these programmes are concluded over the coming 12 months it is necessary to reposition the business for reduced future work flow."
The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union says in a separate statement that Safe Air "told staff the redundancies are a result of existing contracts coming to an end and the high New Zealand dollar making the business uncompetitive in attracting new international work".
Safe Air became a subsidiary of Air NZ in 1978, when National Airways Corp merged with the airline. It has about 270 workers, according to its website.
Shares of Air NZ rose 1.4 percent to $1.50 and have gained 14 percent this year.
(BusinessDesk)
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Air NZ’s Safe Air cuts 84 jobs in Blenheim
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