Govt aims to shore up air freight routes

WELLINGTON: Transport Minister Phil Twyford has announced $330 million of the funding set aside for the aviation sector will go towards ensuring air freight continues on key routes for the next six months.

The Government set aside $600 million for the aviation sector last week — more than half of it will ensure supply chains stay open and address immediate risks and opportunities that arise in the aviation sector in the immediate and longer term future.

The focus is on the transport of medicines, medical supplies and highvalue exports.

‘‘The Government is working with airlines and air freight operators to ensure New Zealand’s key air freight channels remain open for high priority goods,’’ Mr Twyford said.

‘‘We recognise how important it is to continue the flow of critical imports like medicine, and also support our exporters to ensure New Zealand is wellplaced to respond to the recovery when it comes,’’ he said.

‘‘The rest of the world still want our food products like milk and meat. So it’s critical that part of the economy is able to continue exporting and keep employing New Zealanders during the lockdown — maintaining freight services is essential to that.

‘‘Under the air freight capacity support package, airlines and other air freight businesses will be invited to submit proposals for . . . financial support for them to deliver freight capacity on key routes.’’

Proposals would need to cover how critical imports and high value exports would be prioritised, and prices; the request for proposals for the first round of the package was released yesterday, and decisions would be made within the next two weeks.

Cabinet also agreed to fasttrack immediate funding to ensure urgent freight services are not disrupted. — RNZ