A few people on here are missing the point. The policy is dressed up as a fatigue mitigation measure but it literally does nothing to address fatigue. All it does for current commuters is force them to buy more expensive flights. There is also a couple of fish-hooks in there that go well beyond the company's rights over it's employees. For example, if an employee wishes to move house they have to ask their managers permission, which he may deny. Also, if they apply for any internal position, and remain living outside of Auckland, they will only be granted this position under "exceptional circumstances". These two policies are completely in breach of the pilots contract and so far beyond their rights that I can only assume they are trying it on in order to antagonise the pilots before the upcoming contract negotiations. The next step will be an effort to get around the scope clause and blackmail the pilots over the 787 fleet introduction. (Watch out Mt Cook, it's coming your way too with the new ATR's).
And as for it not being aimed at pilots alone..... Well, I accept that a number of flight attendants commute, but otherwise, pilots are the only significant group of commuters. In fact, of 860 odd pilots on the jet fleet, 450 live outside the Auckland area.
Last edited by Offcut; 7th Nov 2011 at 03:16.