Air New Zealand flags cancellations as well as airfare increases

Earlier this week we reported bad news for flyers with the increase in the price of jet fuel leading Air New Zealand becoming the first international airline to increase airfares in a bid to offset challenging operating costs. 

Air New Zealand confirmed that it has implemented fare changes, saying that if the conflict in the Middle East continues, it would take further pricing action.

Now the airline is flagging flight cancellations.

Air NZ is set to cancel around 1100 flights affecting thousands of passengers through until early May.

Air NZ chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar told Radio New Zealand’s Morning Report that between now and the end of April/early May the airline will cancel around 1100 flights.

In that period the airline will carry around 1.9 million passengers, so 44,000 passengers will be affected by flight cancellations, he said. Most of the passengers will be moved to flights on the same day.

The exact flights cancelled have not yet been announced.

Services would be cut "proportionally across the board", meaning both domestic and international, but no routes would be cut altogether. Off-peak services would be the focus of the cuts, he said.

So you can thank President Trump's "pre-emptive" action for that. 

IATA’s weekly monitoring of jet fuel prices has revealed a 58% rise from US$99.40 to US$157 a barrel on last week. 

Air New Zealand also pointed to an increasingly volatile spread in the difference between crude oil and the price of refined jet fuel. 

“Since the conflict began, the crack spread has been particularly volatile, widening from approximately US$22 per barrel before the conflict to as high as US$115 per barrel,” Air New Zealand said in a statement. 

"As a result, the airline has suspended its 2026 [earnings] guidance for the foreseeable future, with the crisis expected to 'meaningfully affect' its second-half earnings." 

Network and schedule adjustments were also flagged. The share prices for both Qantas and Virgin Australia both dropped this week on the back of the jet fuel crisis before rallying. 

Cheap fares on offer from AirAsia

Budget airline AirAsia is celebrating its 23rd birthday by offering 23% off fares across its network.

That includes all fares to and from Australia with tariffs starting from $169.

Over 150 destinations include Shenzhen, DaLat, Sihanoukville, Nairobi and Almaty.

This exclusive discount is available now on airasia.com and the AirAsia MOVE app until December 1 only

Guests can plan their new year travel for 2025, between January 6 and June 30, 2025.

The airline recently celebrated at the World Travel Awards (WTA), winning the titles of ‘World’s Leading Low-Cost Airline’ and ‘World’s Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew’ for the 12th year and eighth year consecutively.

Fare examples include:
Sydney to Kuala Lumpur all-in one-way fare from $339

Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur all-in one-way fare from $309

Perth to Kuala Lumpur all-in one-way fare from $199

Sydney to Bangkok all-in one-way fare from $359

Cairns to Bali all-in one-way fare from $199

*Fares are all inclusive of airfares and taxes and charges. Other terms and conditions may apply. 

Where to find fares to Asia from $199 each way

Forget Black Friday. How about marking Green Friday?

Vietjet, a Vietnam-based low-cost airline that I flew with a few weeks ago, will be holding a Green Friday Sale to highlight the airline’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

The promotion will run from November 27-29 offering one-way tickets starting at $199 all-in, applicable to routes between Australia and Vietnam.

Travellers can book tickets on www.vietjetair.com or the Vietjet Air app, with a travel period from January 1 to May 22, 2025.

The availability of discounted seats varies depending on the route and travel dates.

"Green Friday reflects Vietjet’s mission to promote eco-friendly travel through investments in fuel-efficient aircraft like the A321neo and A330neo, the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to reduce emissions by up to 80%, and green practices such as e-tickets and sustainable onboard materials," the airline says.

"These initiatives align with Vietnam's COP26 net-zero pledge and Vietjet’s commitment to environmentally responsible aviation."

Vietjet flies to key Australian cities from both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi and is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Cheap airfares to Asia on sale - but for three days only

Fancy a break in south-east Asia?

Flights from Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and the Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur (above) are on sale now for three days starting from $139/NZ$169.

The AirAsia X sale also features fares from Auckland to Sydney starting from NZ$129 each way.

The three-day sale runs until midnight on Sunday and features fares valid for a travel period extending from April 24 to November 30.

“We are thrilled to be back in Australia and Auckland, New Zealand, as two of our most popular mid-range destinations and Asia’s low-fare leader, we will continue to offer the best-value fares for our guests Down Under and this sale certainly delivers on this promise," says Karen Chan, AirAsia Group Chief Commercial Officer.

“We expect these unbeatable low fares to sell out fast so we encourage bargain seekers to get in quick to avoid disappointment.

“The sale enables our Aussie and Kiwi passengers to experience the wonders of Malaysia in the vibrant and metropolitan capital city Kuala Lumpur, or continue on throughout south-east Asia on our extensive network to over 120 leisure-favourite destinations like Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, or even to the wider Asian countries, to Korea, Japan, China and India."

AAX also features premium flatbeds for those seeking extra legroom and comfort which are included in the sale starting from NZ$319 from Auckland to Sydney and from $529 from Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur, all inclusive, one way during the sale.

Book through the AirAsia super app.