Air New Zealand long-haul cabin crew to strike this week

By Andrew Curran

Air New Zealand’s long-haul cabin crew will strike on February 12 and 13, 2026, seeing some flights cancelled. The long-haul cabin crew work Air New Zealand’s B777-300ER and B787-9 flights. The airline says it will attempt to minimise disruptions. However, Air New Zealand has cancelled 44 flights over the two day period, impacting around 9,500 passengers.

Unions have rejected a proposed salary increase of 4.14% to 6.41% for their long-haul cabin crew member, citing concerns that salaries will soon fall below a liveable income.

Union bosses say Air New Zealand cabin crew members are at “breaking point.” They cite high workloads, fatigue, and frustration with having to deal with, and apologise for broken cabin equipment and catering issues.

"Flights are repeatedly impacted by preventable issues,” FAANZ president Craig Featherby told Stuff.

While representatives from the Flight Attendants' Association of New Zealand (FAANZ), E tū and Air New Zealand have agreed to facilitated bargaining with the Employment Relations Authority, that will not happen before the upcoming strike dates.

"The strike will proceed as planned," said Featherby.

No pay resolution reached for Air New Zealand long-haul cabin crew

E tū is New Zealand’s largest aviation union with three campaigns underway – safe airports, living wages, and decent work conditions. Most of Air New Zealand’s (approximately) 1,200 cabin crew are members of E tū.

For the majority of 2025, the union has been negotiating three different collective agreements covering long-haul, narrow-body, and regional cabin crews. 

Late last year, short-haul cabin crew who work domestic, trans-Tasman, and Pacific island flights, were preparing to strike over similar pay and work condition issues. However, last-ditch talks between Air New Zealand and E tū saw the strike averted.

No such resolution has been reached regarding the long-haul cabin crews.

Air New Zealand’s fleet of B777-300ERs and B787-9s operate services to its North America and Asian ports, as well as selected flights to Australia and around the Pacific islands.

“Some travel plans will still be disrupted," Chief People Officer Nikki Dines said.

Union argues inflation rises would eat up current pay increase offer

Like many other countries, New Zealand is in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and frequently, salary increases, if they occur, are not keeping up with inflation.

Featherby says the current pay offer would push the salary of an average Air New Zealand long-haul cabin crew just above the so-called "living wage" level, but on-going inflation would soon close that gap. The cabin crew and the unions want a bigger offer.

According to E tū, its members need to earn NZD28.95 (USD17.42) per hour to make a living wage and “live with dignity.”

Air New Zealand says its cabin crew earn more than the living wage.

“Their base salary provides a consistent income, regardless of the hours they fly,” Dines told Stuff. “In addition to their base salary, cabin crew receive payments and allowances to recognise additional responsibilities, time away from home, and longer duties. They also receive further allowances to support them while they are away from home.“

While this week’s strike may affect some trans-Tasman and Pacific island services, Air New Zealand says domestic and most short-haul international flights will be unaffected.

Photo: Air New Zealand.

Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com