Strike hits Auckland airport

Apr 26, 2006 [tvnz.co.nz] Four international flights were affected by a two-hour strike by Auckland Airport's rescue fire service last week.

The strike, part of the EPMU members pay negotiations, began at 10:30am Wednesday.

The airport company, Auckland International Airport, says the airport was able to maintain a slightly reduced level of rescue fire cover, which meant all domestic flights and most international flights were able to operate as normal.

Four international flights by Malaysia Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines, using larger aircraft, were affected, with delayed arrivals and departures.

Auckland Airport brought in external rescue fire contractors and former rescue fire staff to cover for the two-hour period.

The airport company says all regulatory and safety standards were met.

Airlines, air traffic control and other operational organisations worked with the airport company for two weeks to prepare the contingency plans.