Tens of thousands of airline passengers facing disrupted travel plans have been told they may be entitled to refunds after Air New Zealand announced widespread flight cancellations.

An Air New Zealand spokesperson told chrislynchmedia.com, “like other airlines, Air New Zealand regularly makes changes to our schedule depending on things like seasonality and demand.

“With the unprecedented volatility in jet fuel prices due to the conflict in the Middle East, airlines around the world are adjusting fares and their schedules to help manage the impact of these significantly increased costs.

“To help keep flying as affordable as possible and be as efficient with fuel as we can be, we have consolidated a small number of flights between 16 March and 3 May.

“The flights represent 5% of our total domestic and international schedule and are mainly in lower demand or off peak times. There are just under 44,000 passengers impacted out of the 1.9 million passengers we will fly over this period. Affected customers will be contacted today and will experience minimal disruption, with majority travelling on the same day as their original booking.

“We know how important air travel is to New Zealand. In making these schedule changes we have tried to strike a balance between maintaining connectivity to all regions and our ability to reaccommodate passengers close to their original booking. All customers impacted will be reaccommodated, and will be eligible for a refund or credit if they are unable to fly.”

Consumer NZ said travellers affected by the airline’s decision to cut more than 1,000 flights in the coming weeks have the right to decline alternative flights and request their money back.

Chief Executive Jon Duffy said many passengers would be automatically rebooked on flights departing the same day, but those replacements do not have to be accepted.

“Air New Zealand has announced it will be cutting over a thousand flights in the coming weeks because of rising fuel costs.

While most travellers will be rebooked onto same day flights, we want people to know that if that new flight doesn’t suit them, they can choose not to take it and ask for their money back instead,” Duffy said.

Duffy said the airline’s decision appeared to be an operational one, meaning passengers may have additional rights.

“When an airline cancels flights due to events out of its control, like severe weather or airspace closure, passengers usually have to accept the disruption and wear any associated expenses or claim on their insurance,” he said.

“The decision to amend the flight schedules is driven by rising fuel costs. We think this is an operational decision, which means impacted passengers have rights if the rescheduled flight doesn’t suit them.”

Domestic passengers may be able to claim compensation under the Civil Aviation Act if their flight is cancelled for reasons within the airline’s control and they choose not to accept an alternative flight.

In those situations, passengers can ask for a refund and may also claim back additional expenses such as meals, accommodation and other costs related to reaching their destination. The total compensation available is capped at the lesser of 10 times the ticket price or the actual cost caused by the delay.

International travellers may also have rights under international aviation rules including the Montreal Convention. Consumer NZ said passengers affected by international cancellations are entitled to a refund if they choose not to accept a replacement flight and may also be able to claim additional costs.

Under the Montreal Convention, the maximum compensation for delays can reach $15,134, which can include the cost of alternative travel arrangements.

Passengers departing from airports in the European Union may also be eligible for further financial assistance under European regulations.

Consumer NZ said the flight cuts highlight the need for airlines to clearly inform passengers about their rights.

Despite changes to the Civil Aviation Act last year allowing the Government to require airlines to provide that information, Consumer NZ said no such requirement has been introduced.

“People impacted by flight disruptions deserve clarity. It shouldn’t be up to them to interpret complex laws to figure out who is at fault for a cancellation, and what that means for their own situation. Air New Zealand’s flight cuts highlight precisely why the current information gap needs to be filled,” Duffy said.

Consumer NZ presented a petition to Parliament on Tuesday calling for airlines to be required to inform passengers of their rights when flights are delayed or cancelled. The petition received more than 10,500 signatures.