Grabaseat, Air New Zealand's online discount air portal, provides a pleasant respite from Air NZ's normal pricing policy. Using Grabaseat means Air New Zealand becomes a much more affordable travel option, for a wider number of customers.
Grabalot, is less well advertised. It landed in my email this morning. I had enquired, from my normal travel agent, the approximate cost of return flights to the UK this summer. The basic economy return quoted stands at approx NZ$3,500, premium economy at NZ$6,050. That's some advance on the same period last year.
Undoubtedly, part of this increase must come down to increased fuel costs. In a Press Pelease dated 30 the April, Air New Zealand said; "Over the last two months long haul international fares have increased by 4% to 8% dependent on route and class, and look certain to rise further as fuel continues to spiral".
More worryingly, Rob Fyfe, Air New Zealand's CEO has said recently that some international routes are 'under review'. We know what that means. Any further reduction in capacity can only have one impact. Prices will spike again.
In the previous blog, I highlighted tomorrow's NZ New Thinking Export breakfast being hosted here in Tauranga. The economic challenges are real. For exporters, the ability to travel offshore to engage is crucial. So is the cost.
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