Air New Zealand estimates 20,000 customers will be affected after New Zealand’s (NZ) flag carrier axed 1,000 flights to Australia saying uncertainty around international border policy forced its hand. Leanne Geraghty, Air New Zealand’s chief customer and sales officer, said that “due to recent statements by the NZ government that quarantine-free travel between Australia and NZ is unlikely to re-commence this year, we’ve had to make the difficult decision to change our schedule.” “This will be particularly tough news for families and friends who were hoping to catch up over Christmas,” she said in a statement on Nov. 22. “I appreciate how difficult this news will be, but our hands are tied until border restrictions ease, and we receive further clarity from the NZ government.” The carriers schedule after Dec. 31, 2021, will remain in place and is dependent on further updates from the NZ government. Impacted customers can place …