Air New Zealand has filed court proceedings demanding compensation against two fuel companies for losses it incurred during last year’s fuel pipeline crisis.
The airline is suing BP and Z Energy after a fuel pipeline was ruptured, causing major supply problems for Auckland airport.
The pipeline provided the airport with almost all its aviation fuel.
That caused numerous flight cancellations and additional costs to the carrier as it made empty runs to other airports to refill and extra en route fuel stops on longer flights.
Air NZ is seeking $4.3 million from Z Energy and an undisclosed amount from BP.
"The proceedings will be defended and Z refutes all claims. Given the proceedings are now before the court, Z will not be making any further comment," Z Energy said in a statement.
"BP strongly denies Air New Zealand’s claim and will be defending the proceedings,” a BP spokesperson told the NZ Herald.
It dragged on for more than a week before the pipeline was repaired, which caused air travel disruption to thousands on Air NZ and other airlines.
At the time energy and resources minister Megan Woods promised an inquiry into the incident and ways to make fuel supply security more resilient.
