Air New Zealand passengers are preparing for significant disruption on 8 December 2025, as the airline’s cabin crew unions have announced a 24-hour strike that will run from just after midnight until 11:59 p.m. The walkout is expected to affect domestic routes and short-haul international flights the most.

The airline has warned travelers to anticipate cancellations and major delays, and it has already begun rebooking some passengers while advising others to consider adjusting their travel plans.

TL;DR

  • Air New Zealand cabin crew unions plan a 24-hour strike on 8 December.
  • Domestic jet routes and Tasman/Pacific flights face the highest risk.
  • Long-haul services on 787/777 aircraft should operate normally.
  • Regional turboprop flights unaffected due to a separate agreement.
  • Airline estimates 10,000–15,000 passengers may be disrupted.
  • Negotiations continue; strike could still be called off last-minute.

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Routes and flights most at risk

Not all Air New Zealand flights will be equally affected by the strike. The disruption mainly targets flights operated by the airline’s narrow-body jet fleet (Airbus A320/A321 aircraft), which includes main domestic routes and short international hops. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect:

  • Domestic Trunk Routes: Flights connecting major New Zealand cities – such as Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and other main hubs – are largely operated by narrow-body jets and face a high risk of cancellation or delay. If you’re booked on a domestic jet service on 8 December, there’s a strong chance your flight could be rescheduled or canceled. By contrast, smaller regional flights on turboprop aircraft (to towns like Napier or Nelson) are expected to operate as normal, since those cabin crew have reached a separate agreement with the airline.

  • Tasman & Pacific Island Flights: Short-haul international services to Australia (Tasman routes) and nearby Pacific Island destinations are also at risk. These routes are typically flown with the same narrow-body Airbus fleet, and about half of the cabin crew for these flights are still expected to strike. Travelers flying from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch to cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or destinations in the South Pacific (Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, etc.) on 8 December should prepare for possible disruption. Air New Zealand’s management has acknowledged that if the strike proceeds, there will be impacts on the domestic jet, Tasman, and Pacific schedules, and contingency plans are being drawn up.

  • Long-Haul International Flights: The good news is that long-haul routes (flights to/from Asia, North America, and other distant destinations) are likely to operate as scheduled. These services use larger wide-body aircraft (Boeing 787s and 777s), whose cabin crew have reached an in-principle deal with the airline to avert strike action. So, if you’re flying on a long-haul Air New Zealand flight on 8 December, the strike should not affect your journey. Still, double-check whether your flight might have any domestic connecting legs on narrow-body planes, which could be a weak link.

  • Regional Flights: Similarly, regional flights within New Zealand operated by turboprop planes (ATR72s or Dash-8 Q300s) are expected to run normally. Unions representing those crew have withdrawn their strike notices after successful negotiations with Air New Zealand. For example, flights from Auckland to smaller centers like Nelson, New Plymouth, or Napier (usually on turboprops) should not face strike-related disruption. However, if you need to connect from a regional flight to a main trunk jet flight on 8 Dec, the second leg could be impacted.

Overall, Air New Zealand initially estimated some 10,000 to 15,000 passengers might be affected by the strike through cancellations, delays or rebookings during this busy early-summer travel period.

The peak holiday season adds extra pressure, as flights are filling up and alternative options may be limited, so understanding your specific route’s risk is crucial.

Why Is this happening?

This strike is the result of a protracted dispute over pay and working conditions between Air New Zealand and its cabin crew. Two unions – the E tū union and the Flight Attendants’ Association of New Zealand (FAANZ) – represent about 2,250 of the airline’s flight attendants, and both groups voted to take industrial action after months of stalled negotiations.

Union leaders argue that the airline’s latest offers didn’t sufficiently address issues like fatigue, overwork, and pay rates for crew who have shouldered intense workloads, especially as travel rebounded post-pandemic. The 24-hour strike on 8 December was intended to put pressure on the airline for a fair deal, timed at the start of the busy summer travel season when disruption would be most visible.

In the days leading up to the strike, there have been some partial breakthroughs. Air New Zealand reached in-principle agreements with the unions for its wide-body (long-haul) crew and regional turboprop crew, which led those groups to withdraw their 8 December strike notices. This is why long-haul and regional flights are not expected to be affected.

However, talks are still ongoing with the narrow-body jet crew, and as of now the strike by that group is still planned to go ahead on 8 Dec if no final deal is reached. This ongoing uncertainty means travelers on the vulnerable routes must stay alert, as last-minute developments (either a full settlement or confirmation of strike action) could still change the picture.

For those planning trips to or within New Zealand in early December, this situation is a prime example of an “emerging disruption” that requires vigilance. Negotiations are continuing up to the last minute, so there is still a chance the strike could be called off entirely – or, conversely, that it proceeds and significantly impacts travel on the day.

As of now, travel on 8 December carries a level of risk, especially on certain routes, and smart travelers will make contingency plans accordingly. Keep an eye on official updates from Air New Zealand and news outlets as December 8 approaches.

FAQ

Q1. Which Air New Zealand flights are most likely to be cancelled on December 8?
Domestic trunk routes and short-haul international flights using Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft face the highest disruption risk.

Q2. Will long-haul flights be affected?
Unlikely. Wide-body 787 and 777 crews have reached an agreement, so long-haul routes are expected to operate normally.

Q3. Are regional flights cancelled?
No. Regional turboprop flights, including ATR72 and Q300 services, should run as planned. However, connecting flights onto domestic jets may be disrupted.

Q4. Could my Tasman flight be delayed or cancelled?
Yes. Tasman and Pacific Island routes are vulnerable because they use narrow-body jets staffed by crews participating in the strike.

Q5. Is there a chance the strike could be called off?
Yes. Negotiations are ongoing, and the strike could be withdrawn if a last-minute agreement is reached.

Q6. How many passengers will be affected?
Air New Zealand estimates that 10,000 to 15,000 travelers may face cancellations, delays, or rebookings.

Q7. Is Air New Zealand rebooking passengers in advance?
Yes. The airline has already begun rebooking affected travelers and is advising customers to consider adjusting their plans proactively.

Q8. If my flight is cancelled, will I get a refund?
Yes. You can request a refund or be rebooked on the next available service.

Q9. Will connecting flights on December 8 be risky?
Yes. Avoid tight connections, as delays on domestic jets could cause missed onward flights.

Q10. What should travelers do right now?
Check your flight status frequently, enable airline alerts, consider moving travel off December 8, and prepare backup plans.