New Zealand Employment Relations Authority Sides With Airline In Landmark Dispute Over Whether Standby Pilots Deserve Extra Holidays When Not Called To Fly

Published on August 9, 2025 |

New Zealand has delivered a decisive ruling successful a high-profile conflict betwixt Jetstar Airways and its pilots, confirming that standby work during a nationalist vacation does not automatically entitle hose unit to an replacement time off. The Employment Relations Authority wished that unless a aviator is really called successful to work, nan time still counts arsenic a holiday, moreover if definite restrictions—such arsenic staying adjacent to nan airdrome and remaining work-ready—apply. This landmark determination not only resolves a long-running conflict but besides sets a clear precedent for really vacation entitlements are interpreted successful New Zealand’s aviation sector.

Jetstar Wins Employment Dispute Over Standby Pilot Holiday Entitlements successful New Zealand

Jetstar Airways has successfully defended its position successful a ineligible situation brought earlier New Zealand’s Employment Relations Authority, which ruled that nan hose is not required to supply replacement holidays to pilots who stay connected standby during nationalist holidays unless they are really called successful to work.

The lawsuit was initiated by nan New Zealand Air Line Pilots’ Association (NZALPA), which based on that nan standby conditions imposed connected pilots efficaciously prevented them from afloat enjoying nationalist holidays. The authority’s decision, however, wished that these restrictions were not important capable to warrant further time off nether New Zealand law.

Background to nan Dispute

The rumor came to ray erstwhile NZALPA, alongside 2 Jetstar pilots, alleged that nan hose had breached some nan Holidays Act 2003 and nan corporate employment agreement. They claimed that pilots rostered for standby work during nationalist holidays, moreover if not called to fly, faced important individual restrictions that undermined nan tone and intent of a holiday.

The pilots’ lawsuit centered connected respective cardinal standby conditions. They were required to stay wrong 2 hours’ recreation of Auckland Airport, support themselves contactable astatine each times, beryllium successful azygous and fresh to commence work if needed, debar intoxicant and definite medications, and refrain from activities that could hold reporting for work.

According to nan association, these requirements meant pilots could not meaningfully return portion successful cultural, national, aliases belief gatherings, depriving them of nan individual and societal benefits of nationalist holidays.

Jetstar’s Position

Jetstar responded by stating that its standby requirements were adjacent and aligned pinch nan operational standards expected successful safety-sensitive positions passim nan aviation sector. The hose maintained that measures specified arsenic abstaining from intoxicant aliases staying wrong a definite recreation radius are modular operational requirements driven by information regulations, not by a desire to limit vacation enjoyment.

The institution further emphasized that being connected standby without being called successful does not equate to performing work. Therefore, it argued, pilots successful this business are still entitled to see nan time a holiday, moreover pinch definite conditions successful place.

The Authority’s Decision

Employment Relations Authority personnel Alex Leulu delivered nan determination successful Jetstar’s favor. The ruling acknowledged that standby work does enforce restrictions but concluded that these do not portion nan time of its vacation characteristic unless nan aviator is really assigned to progressive duty.

Leulu noted that while nan limitations whitethorn trim flexibility, they were not “significantly onerous” successful a measurement that would warrant awarding an replacement holiday. The determination besides addressed a declare from 1 aviator astir recreation challenges from their location successful Bombay, stating that commuting region is simply a matter of individual prime and does not change nan ineligible mentation of standby duty.

Implications for nan Aviation Industry

This determination has established a definitive benchmark for New Zealand’s aviation manufacture connected really vacation entitlements use to labor connected standby. It confirms that simply being connected call, without carrying retired immoderate existent duties, does not automatically assistance nan correct to an replacement nationalist holiday.

The determination besides provides guidance for different industries that require contiguous readiness from employees, particularly those successful captious roles specified arsenic healthcare, emergency services, and transportation. It underscores nan equilibrium betwixt operational needs and worker rights, showing that definite role-specific obligations tin beryllium without violating vacation provisions nether nan law.

Legal and Operational Balance

In aviation, readiness requirements are often non-negotiable owed to information and regulatory compliance. This lawsuit demonstrates really employment rule takes into relationship nan operational realities of specified industries, ensuring that while workers’ authorities are protected, nan basal quality of their roles is besides recognized.

By clarifying that nan principle of a vacation remains intact unless progressive activity occurs, nan ruling helps airlines and different employers amended understand their responsibilities. It besides signals to labor that while standby conditions whitethorn limit individual plans, they do not automatically construe to a nonaccomplishment of vacation entitlement nether existent legislation.

Looking Ahead

With this ineligible conflict resolved, nan determination is apt to power early employment negotiations and corporate agreements successful New Zealand’s aviation sector. It whitethorn besides punctual unions and manufacture bodies to reassess really standby duties are system and communicated to staff, peculiarly during nationalist holidays.

New Zealand has ruled that Jetstar pilots connected standby during nationalist holidays are not entitled to replacement time off unless they are called to work. The determination sets a precedent for really vacation authorities use to standby work successful nan aviation sector.

Jetstar’s triumph highlights nan continuing speech betwixt operational demands and workplace entitlements successful industries wherever time-critical roles are essential. The result serves arsenic a reminder that ineligible interpretations of vacation authorities dangle not conscionable connected perceived inconvenience but connected whether existent activity is carried retired during nan play successful question.