Air New Zealand (Air NZ) has described claims from the EPMU union that it did not offer a credible blueprint to avoid outsourcing its Airport Services work as "grossly incorrect."

The airline’s group general manager people, Vanessa Stoddart, said in a statement that the EPMU was supplied last month with a detailed blueprint of what its members would have to endorse to avoid work being outsourced.

"In fact, we challenge the union to lift the veil of secrecy it has put around the proposal and share it with all its members, so there can be no confusion about what Air New Zealand required to keep the work in house."

Stoddart also disclosed that in the event of the airline’s ground handling being outsourced it is likely to go to Swissport.