That compared to 50.4 days\u2019 jet fuel since the previous update two days ago.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Brien said New Zealand should examine more onshoring of fuel stocks and whether or not it could produce biofuel, she said.<\/p>\n
Airlines have generally said they did not have the expertise or desire to become fuel producers or refiners.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has to live in the place in the supply chain where it\u2019s appropriate to live. We\u2019re not going to start doing these other parts of the supply chain,\u201d O\u2019Brien told the Herald.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s also for the Government to ensure that the nation is appropriately resilient.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce the head of this crisis has passed us by … We can really start to talk about this in the cold light of day.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said electric aircraft<\/a> would also be part of the solution, at least for short-haul flights.<\/p>\n For transtasman and long-haul flights, aircraft for the foreseeable future would use fossil fuels or sustainable aviation fuel (Saf), she said.<\/p>\n That was because battery technology was not currently viable for long-haul flights.<\/p>\n Air New Zealand has said it could be operating the Beta Technologies Alia CX300 electric plane<\/a> as soon as 2028.<\/p>\n Hawaii\u2019s Surf Air Mobility last month ordered 25 all-electric Alias and acquired options for up to 75 more.<\/p>\n Airlines operating into New Zealand had been voicing concerns about jet fuel prices, O\u2019Brien said.<\/p>\n \u201cNew Zealand traditionally operates in aviation what we call long, skinny routes. We\u2019re a small nation, far away.\u201d<\/p>\n That isolation made New Zealand expensive to travel to even before the war, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is why we argue for things like \u014chakea to be available<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n O\u2019Brien said making the \u014chakea Air Force base available at all times for the biggest passenger aircraft could save international airlines four to six tonnes of fuel per flight.<\/p>\n At Asia and Oceania jet fuel prices for the week ending March 27, that would equate to savings of $11,480 to $17,220 per flight.<\/p>\n Minister of Finance Nicola Willis on Monday said Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones would bring a proposal to Cabinet relating to Channel Infrastructure increasing storage at Marsden Point.<\/p>\n Willis on Monday said fuel stocks were within \u201cnormal\u201d ranges.<\/p>\n \u201cThe market is being completely molested by the war,\u201d Jones said, describing why the Government was making interventions.<\/p>\n \u201cIt ain\u2019t pleasant\u201d trying to run an airline with only 30% of the fuel it needed, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon added.<\/p>\n Jones said the changes would probably require some regulatory relief.<\/p>\n Airlines in a bind<\/p>\n Forsyth Barr head of research Andy Bowley told the Herald airlines did not have the same ability to pass on price rises that freight or courier companies had.<\/p>\n \u201cAirlines typically accept or mitigate the risk of fuel price changes themselves without passing that on to customers.\u201d<\/p>\n Bowley said freight and courier companies typically had adjustment factors, meaning customers paid for higher fuel costs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Those higher costs for freight and courier companies might lag, but perhaps only by weeks, with a variable fuel factor reflected in invoices.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just part of the customer relationship for a courier or freight business.\u201d<\/p>\n Bowley said whereas airlines often served individuals with unpredictable booking behaviour, freight firms gave many regular services to regular business customers.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe it\u2019s part of the dynamic of serving customers versus serving businesses. You have a much broader relationship.\u201d<\/p>\nAir New Zealand and pilot Nate Dubie started test flights of the Beta Alia CX300 electric aircraft in November. Photo \/ Mike Scott<\/p>\n