Air New Zealand drops airfares to $9 as flyers are spooked by coronavirus

Air New Zealand is the latest airline to drop prices below $10 to woo back passengers spooked by travelling during the coronavirus outbreak.

Air New Zealand has slashed fares to less than $9 this morning to win over passengers scared off flying due to the coronavirus epidemic.

The airline put 1000 domestic $NZ9 ($8.65) fares on sale on its Grabaseat website this morning, with all of them sold out in minutes, the New Zealand Herald reported.

The sale came days after the airline slashed return flights between Australia and New Zealand to as low as $128 as it tried to get people flying despite coronavirus fears.

Other airlines are dropping fares to get people back on planes during a downturn caused by virus anxiety, including a Chinese airline that’s selling tickets for about $6.

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Air New Zealand’s $9 fares sold out in an hour, although $47 fares remained in play for key destinations, including Auckland-Wellington.

Chief revenue officer Cam Wallace said the $9 New Zealand domestic fares were in response to softening demand as a result of coronavirus.

Air New Zealand is slashing fares to get people flying during the coronavirus crisis.

“On Monday we’ll be offering these absolutely outstanding one-way fares to all of our 20 domestic destinations,” he said.

On Friday, Mr Wallace said customers could get some “ridiculously good deals” on flights across the Tasman, citing one-way fares from as $69 on flights from Auckland to Melbourne as an example.

“Like all airlines, we have seen some softness in demand on routes like the Tasman, where we now have some empty seats due to travellers mainly from Asian destinations not connecting between New Zealand and Australia.

“Kiwis and Aussies are going to be able to head away for holidays or to see family and friends or do business for cheaper than a night’s accommodation at most hotels.”

Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia have all reduced capacity over the Tasman as a result of coronavirus travel bans and fears over the outbreak – but the operators are dropping prices to ensure planes are as full as possible.

Earlier on Sunday, Air New Zealand announced it was halving its flights to Samoa after the island nation insisted that all passengers carry a medical certificate confirming they are fit to travel.

The national airline has cancelled one flight and reduced its service from six flights to three from Monday after being ordered to do so by the Samoan Government from midnight Sunday.

Samoa’s health officials have also introduced a requirement for all passengers entering the country to carry a medical certificate dated within three days of travel in response to the global coronavirus outbreak.

“All passengers to Samoa are now required to carry with them a medical certificate, indicating they are well and able to travel,” Air New Zealand said.

The airline has cancelled its Auckland-Apia flights scheduled for today, Friday and Sunday.

This article originally appeared on the New Zealand Herald and was reproduced with permission