Qantas partner Air Tahiti Nui cancels flights leaving Aussie travellers stranded due to strikes
Stranded in paradise: Aussies and Kiwis queue for hours to leave Tahiti after strikes throw flight schedules into chaos
- Aussies and Kiwis stranded in Tahiti after airline strike
- Travelers left the airport for days awaiting news
- Air Tahiti Nui flights were canceled at the last minute
- Photos show chaos at airport as tourists queue for flights
Aussies have been stranded in Tahiti after a cabin crew strike led to flights being canceled from the holiday destination.
Customers of Qantas and Air Tahiti Nui were left waiting at the airport after flights were canceled Monday through Friday due to strikes.
Air Tahiti Nui staff began a strike on Tuesday, July 4, with cabin crew demanding that their wages be reviewed and offered a new pay package.
The motion upended travel plans, with Air Tahiti canceling flights to destinations such as Sydney, Brisbane and Perth at the very last minute.
Those flight cancellations also meant New Zealand holidaymakers were left stranded as they had to fly to an Australian capital to catch a connecting flight across the Tasman.
Aussie and NZ travelers have had a horror week, with cabin crew strikes for Air Tahiti Nui flights causing late cancellations and travelers forced to seek accommodation or wait at the airport (pictured)
On Monday, a statement from Air Tahiti said they were “actively working” to find “alternative solutions” to ensure travelers can reach their destination.
But throughout the week, photos showed airport lounges full of people who didn’t know how or when they would return home.
“The commercial department indicates that each customer will be contacted individually as soon as a new departure option is found,” an Air Tahiti Nui statement said on Monday.
“Our teams are also actively involved in finding accommodation solutions to minimize inconvenience to customers while waiting.”
Qantas said the flights were canceled at the last minute and it is Air Tahiti’s responsibility to find alternative routes for its customers.
The Australian airline said its codeshare agreement with Air Tahiti made it “difficult” to contact affected customers.
On Monday, a statement from Air Tahiti said they were “actively working” to find “alternative solutions” to ensure travelers can reach their destination after canceling flights
From Monday to Friday, photos from Tahiti showed airport lounges full of people unsure how or when they would return home, with some forced to sleep in the terminal
At 2 a.m. on Thursday, July 13, Air Tahiti booked a flight from Air Calin – New Caledonia’s flag carrier – as an ’emergency flight’ to get stranded Aussies and Kiwis home
At 2am on Thursday, July 13, Air Tahiti booked a flight from Air Calin – New Caledonia’s national airline – as an ’emergency flight’ to get stranded Aussies and Kiwis home.
Photos show people queuing and desperately trying to get on the run and return home.
On Thursday evening, the airline confirmed that the two unions representing striking cabin crew members have finally reached an agreement.
The airline stated that a memorandum of understanding had been signed ending the labor dispute.
“This agreement will allow our scheduled services to return to normal in the coming days,” said Air Tahiti Nui.
The Sydney couple Shane and Catherine Hogan told that on Monday The Daily Telegraph they were left ‘disappointed’ after being turned away at the departure gate.
‘It’s been a disaster. Those of us who have flown here with Qantas have not had a text or email. Qantas hasn’t said a word,” Mr Hogan said.
“I called (Qantas) two days ago and spoke to someone in the office who said we will call you and keep you updated. Nothing from Quantas.’
The pair were forced to find emergency shelter, fighting with other families who were in the same boat and unsure when they could fly home.
“Every family in the terminal is in the same situation,” Mr Hogan said.
“They don’t know when they’re on a flight.”