Air New Zealand to use larger aircraft for todays service to Samoa

Air New Zealand is adding an additional 150 seats and extra cargo capacity to its scheduled service from Auckland to Samoa this afternoon in the event aid support is required for tsunami struck communities.

General Manager Airline Operations David Morgan says the service has been up-gauged from a 152 seat A320 to a 304 seat Boeing 777-200ER.

“We are acutely aware that this is an evolving situation and Government and aid agencies may require the ability to move people or supplies at short notice.

“We have been in touch with the New Zealand Government and offered whatever support we can to emergency relief efforts and to repatriate any Kiwis who want to leave Samoa and get home. While the airport at Samoa is currently closed for inspection, we are hopeful that it will be operational by mid-afternoon.”

Meantime, Mr Morgan says Air New Zealand’s Samoa-based staff are all reported as safe.