Sept 17 (Reuters) - Air New Zealand (AIR) said on Friday it expects a monthly impact of up to NZ$35 million ($24.76 million) to its earnings as long as current levels of coronavirus restrictions in Auckland and the rest of the country persist.
New Zealand earlier this week extended strict lockdowns in its largest city Auckland as it continues to face an outbreak of the Delta variant of the coronavirus, keeping the alert at level 4 - restrictions on all types of transport and travel.
Earlier in the month, curbs in the rest of the country were downgraded to level 2, even as trans-Tasman travel between New Zealand and Australia remained suspended as both the countries battle to contain the spread of the virus.
With these curbs in place, the carrier expects a monthly impact of between NZ$25 million and NZ$35 million, including the benefit of government wage subsidies, it said in a statement.
A tighter nationwide lockdown would increase the monthly impact to between NZ$45 million to NZ$55 million, while the monthly impact from the suspension of the trans-Tasman curbs is estimated to be between NZ$20 million and NZ$25 million.
"It remains unclear how long these alert levels, the suspension of trans-Tasman quarantine free travel and associated travel restrictions will continue, as well as how demand will recover when the restrictions are lifted," the airline said.
($1 = 1.4136 New Zealand dollars)
