But Air New Zealand says its price hikes were because physical distancing requirements meant it could only sell about half a plane's seats. The Commerce Commission has received three complaints about Air NZ which include the words "price gouging". In the reporting of its annual results last week, Air NZ said it expected to draw on the loan "in the coming days". "Why should Kiwis bail out Air New Zealand whilst Air New Zealand doesn't seem to be capable of providing competitive, justifiable fares to keep regional businesses, regional economies, regional communities solid." Jones has long-accused Air NZ of price gouging on its regional routes where it is a monopoly-operator and called the recent price hikes between the major cities a "tolling operation".

Source: Otago Daily Times September 05, 2020 23:03 UTC