New Zealand Cabin Crew Strike Cuts Flights December 8

Published on Nov 24, 2025, 8:55 am CST

7 min read

Key points

Air New Zealand cabin crew from E tū and FAANZ plan a 24 hour strike on December 8, 2025 across regional, domestic, and international fleets
The coordinated action could affect up to 15,000 passengers and severely limit flights through hubs such as Auckland and Wellington
Air New Zealand says it will support impacted customers with rebooking, meals, and accommodation but has not yet adjusted schedules
Travelers booked on December 8 should monitor airline alerts, allow extra time for connections, and consider moving nonessential trips

Impact

Where Impacts Are Most Likely: Expect the heaviest disruption on December 8 for flights to and from Auckland Airport, Wellington International Airport, and Christchurch Airport, especially on trunk domestic routes and long haul services
Best Times To Fly: Flights on December 7 and 9, or early morning and late evening services that the airline protects as essential, are likely to be safer options than midday departures
Onward Travel And Changes: Same day connections, separate tickets, and tight cruise or tour departures from New Zealand carry higher misconnect risk and may require rebooking to different days or airports
What Travelers Should Do Now: Review December 8 bookings, update contact details in your Air New Zealand profile, hold backup routings, and be ready to move trips once the airline finalizes any schedule changes
Alternative Routes And Airlines: Where possible, price itineraries on Qantas, Jetstar, or other carriers via Australia, and compare those with Air New Zealand options on different dates before committing

Some of the links and widgets on this page are affiliates, which means we may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you.

An Air New Zealand cabin crew strike on December 8, 2025 is now a real planning risk for flights across New Zealand, especially through Auckland and other main hubs. Around 1,200 cabin crew represented by unions E tū and FAANZ have served notice for a coordinated 24 hour walkout that covers regional, domestic, and international fleets on the same day.For travelers, that combination raises the prospect of a one day near shutdown of parts of the network, making it important to add buffer, avoid tight same day connections, and consider shifting trips off the strike date where possible.

The Air New Zealand cabin crew strike will concentrate disruption on December 8 across the airline's New Zealand and long haul flights, and could force many travelers to reroute or move itineraries if talks fail to produce a deal in time.

Air New Zealand says it has received formal strike notices from E tū and the Flight Attendants' Association of New Zealand, FAANZ, which together represent about 80 percent of its cabin crew.RNZ reporting indicates that around 1,250 E tū members across regional, domestic, and international fleets plan to stop work for the full day on Monday, December 8, with FAANZ members also joining the action.Local coverage from New Zealand outlets estimates that up to 15,000 passengers could face delays or cancellations if the strike proceeds ahead of the Christmas rush, a significant share of the airline's daily traffic.

Air New Zealand's own travel alert confirms that strike action on regional fleets is planned between 500 a.m. and 1100 p.m., and on domestic and international fleets between 1201 a.m. and 1159 p.m. on Monday, December 8, local time in New Zealand.Because those windows span most of the operating day, even a small skeleton schedule would leave limited options, and knock on disruption is likely on late night departures into December 9 and early morning arrivals on December 8 as crew and aircraft are repositioned.

How The Air New Zealand Cabin Crew Strike Could Affect Flights

In practical terms, the biggest pressure points are likely to be high frequency domestic trunk routes and long haul services that rely heavily on Air New Zealand metal. Auckland Airport (AKL) is the country's main international gateway and Air New Zealand's primary hub, handling the majority of connecting traffic for overseas visitors.Wellington International Airport (WLG), Christchurch Airport (CHC), and Queenstown Airport (ZQN) also depend on Air New Zealand for many domestic and trans Tasman links, so a coordinated cabin crew walkout will ripple through most major city pairs.

On December 8, travelers can expect the greatest risk of cancellations and consolidations on routes such as Auckland-Wellington, Auckland-Christchurch, and Auckland-Queenstown, plus feeder flights that connect regional centers into those hubs. Long haul services between Auckland and North America, Asia, and the Pacific are also at risk, particularly overnight flights that rely on New Zealand based crews covered by the strike.Even if Air New Zealand is able to operate a handful of services with non union or management crew, the overall number of flights is likely to be significantly lower than normal.

What Air New Zealand Says It Will Do For Customers

So far, Air New Zealand has not preemptively canceled flights for December 8, and the travel alert stresses that negotiations are ongoing and there is "no impact to flights" yet.However, the airline also outlines a familiar support package if industrial action goes ahead, including rebooking on alternative flights, providing meals and refreshments during long waits at the airport, and arranging accommodation and transport when overnight stays are required because of disruptions it controls.

The carrier's reimbursement guidance suggests that, in busy periods when hotel space is tight, some travelers may be asked to book their own accommodation within recommended price limits and then seek reimbursement with itemized receipts.Affected passengers will be contacted directly if their flight is changed or canceled, which makes it essential to confirm that contact details in the booking and any linked Airpoints profile are up to date, and that email and SMS alerts are enabled.

Planning Domestic Trips Within New Zealand

For travelers who are only flying within New Zealand, the simplest mitigation is to avoid nonessential travel on December 8 altogether. Where dates are flexible, shifting flights to December 7 or December 9 significantly lowers the risk of cancellation and reduces the chance of being caught in a queue for limited same day alternatives.

If travel on December 8 cannot be moved, it is safer to select early morning or later evening services once Air New Zealand publishes any revised schedule, because airlines often prioritize a core pattern of departures that support critical connections. Travelers connecting between domestic flights at Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch should aim for at least three hours between flights, avoid separate tickets on different carriers, and be prepared for last minute gate changes as the airline consolidates operations.

For trips that connect air travel with ferries, long distance buses, or tours, it is prudent to treat departure times on December 8 as approximate. Booking coach or tour departures a day after arrival, or choosing fully flexible ground tickets where possible, will reduce the stress of late arriving flights and the potential for forfeited reservations.

Long Haul Travelers And Alternative Routings

Visitors flying to or from New Zealand on Air New Zealand around December 8 should think in terms of both the strike day itself and its shoulders. Because the walkout spans almost the entire operating day, some long haul flights on December 7 and December 9 may also be adjusted if aircraft and crews are out of position.

One strategy is to route via Australia on carriers such as Qantas or Jetstar, then use non Air New Zealand flights across the Tasman where available, especially for critical trips that cannot slip by a day. Another is to fly on Air New Zealand but move the long haul leg off December 8, accepting a longer stopover or a night in Auckland to keep the most vulnerable segment away from the strike window. Travelers on complex itineraries should avoid self connecting low cost segments on the strike date, since missed connections caused by industrial action may not be protected by other airlines.

Background: Why This Strike Notice Matters

E tū and FAANZ say they have been negotiating with Air New Zealand since April over pay, rostering, and fatigue risks, arguing that current conditions do not reflect the responsibilities and safety critical nature of cabin crew work.Union representatives and anonymous crew members quoted in local media describe low morale and concern that management is prioritizing efficiency and higher productivity targets over crew wellbeing and rest.

Under New Zealand industrial relations rules, unions must give notice before strike action, which creates a window for continued bargaining. Both sides have signaled that talks will continue in the weeks leading up to December 8, and Air New Zealand's chief executive has publicly emphasized a desire for a "fair and sustainable" settlement that balances crew pay, customer affordability, and the airline's wider economic pressures.That means a last minute deal is still possible, but travelers should plan as if the strike will go ahead, then benefit from smoother operations if a resolution is reached.

What Travelers Should Do Next

Anyone holding Air New Zealand tickets on December 8 should first verify contact information in their booking, then map out alternatives. That includes making a list of nearby airports, such as routing via Wellington International Airport (WLG) or Christchurch Airport (CHC) instead of relying solely on Auckland Airport (AKL), and checking whether competing carriers offer workable options on adjacent dates.

Second, travelers should decide which trips are essential and which can be moved, because waiver policies, if announced, may prioritize voluntary date changes away from the strike window. Finally, anyone with critical same day connections, cruises, or tour departures anchored to December 8 should speak with their airline, travel advisor, or tour operator now about contingency plans, rather than waiting for call centers and airport help desks to fill up if the Air New Zealand cabin crew strike proceeds as notified.