Air New Zealand announced that it will be changing its on-board food service and mask requirements “to add another layer of protection for New Zealanders over a busy summer season”. Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty says the health and safety of customers and crew is paramount so starting 1 January the airline will by providing snacks to customers when they disembark the aircraft, rather than during the flight and masks will be required to be worn at all times.
“We know customers look forward to their cookie, popcorn or bliss bites so rather than pause food and beverage service, we have made the decision to offer our popular snacks to our customers to enjoy when they arrive at their destination,” Geraghty said. “It’s anticipated that we will soon see the Omicron variant within the New Zealand community, so we are making this change now to further safeguard our customers and crew.”
Masks will continue to be mandatory for all customers onboard and must be worn throughout the duration of the flight. “Masks are one of the key ways to limit transmission, so making this change will enable our customers’ masks to be kept on throughout the flight and ensure they are as safe as possible while onboard an Air New Zealand aircraft,” Geraghty said.
This temporary change will be reviewed on a regular basis and updated accordingly. Water will still be available upon request.