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Source: ONE News -
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Air New Zealand says it has no intention of raising its prices, in spite of the disruption and costs caused by the ash cloud from an Iceland volcano, which closed European air space for nearly a week.
There are reports of gouging from other airlines and some hotels around the world.
Air New Zealand put the cost of the chaos at $2.5 million. Group general manager Ed Sims right now the airline is just concentrating on getting the schedule back to normal as quickly as it can.
But the carrier is warning that it could be weeks before the passenger backlog is cleared.
The airline resumed flights on Wednesday night after the ban was lifted and is putting on extra flight to move the thousands of stranded passengers in Britain and New Zealand.
The airline said passengers stranded in Hong Kong and Los Angeles will get first priority, followed by customers with existing bookings on scheduled services, then passengers in a chronological order from their original point of delay.
Spokesman Ed Sims said the airline will also try to be sympathetic for special requests such as people trying to travel for funerals or weddings.
British airlines are furious at the length of the disruption and are threatening action against the government there.
Heathrow and Gatwick airports in London reopened on Wednesday and by the end of the day air traffic was back to more than 80% of normal levels, said the National Air Traffic Service.
* Do you know people arriving on the first flights into NZ after the disruption in Europe - NZ1, NZ6801 and NZ80? ONE News would like to hear your stories. Email news@tvnz.co.nz
