Drama has ensued in Tahiti, because the national carrier Air Tahiti Nui (TN) has canceled services between Fa’a’ā International Airport, Papeete, and Auckland International Airport (AKL), as cabin crew has gone on strike. The airline, which codeshares with Australian carrier Qantas, uses the TN services to/from Auckland as a springboard for connecting services across Australia.
The cabin crew, demanding a salary review and higher conditions, have upended the airline’s South Pacific operations with the move, and the airline is working extra time to search out an answer to get stranded passengers home.
Photo: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
Aircalin to the rescue
Neighboring French collective Recent Caledonia has leaned its Airbus A330, operated by Aircalin (SB), to make use of a charter service between Papeete and Auckland to assist alleviate the pain left by the canceled flights. The A330neo, utilized by SB, has an analogous capability to the standard Air Tahiti Nui Boeing 787-9. Nonetheless, it’s unlikely to calm the nerves of upset travelers left on this chaos.
It is not just those heading to Australia and Recent Zealand which have been left within the lurch by the strikes, with Air Tahiti Nui noting on their website that a spread of other international services has also been axed this week. These include:
- TN8 on 09JUL from Papeete to Los Angeles
- TN8 on 10JUL from Los Angeles to Paris Charles de Gaulle
- TN101 on 10JUL from Papeete to Auckland
- TN7 on 11JUL from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Los Angeles
- TN7 on 11JUL from Los Angeles to Papeete
- TN102 on 11JUL from Auckland to Papeete
The airline has also released a waiver, noting that any passengers booked on services between the ninth and eleventh of July can cancel their flights and claim a full refund, no matter whether their service has been canceled. The airline also guarantees to reimburse passengers who’ve had their travel plans interrupted and may claim accommodation costs by contacting the airline.
Photo: Air Tahiti Nui
A response from Air Tahiti Nui
The airline has placed quite a few updates on its web sites and has released the next statements, as reported by Australian Aviation:
“Charter solutions are currently being sought to permit resident travelers stranded abroad to return to Polynesia and foreign visitors to succeed in their country of origin.
“The General Management, together with the staff within the air and on the bottom, are actively troubleshooting for passengers and sincerely apologize for the inconvenience attributable to this strike.
“Returning to normal operation is a priority for the corporate, which is currently doing every thing possible to help its passengers best.”
Qantas, who codeshare on the service between Auckland and Papeete, QF3815, and QF3816, have encouraged affected passengers booked through the Australian carrier to make contact immediately in order that they can assist.
The likelihood of lingering delays and cancellations is prone to stay, with the crew and the airline yet to agree. Protests have also been suggested, as noted by Crisis24, having the potential to pop up outside the airport or the airline’s offices in Papeete.
Sources: Australian Aviation