Air New Zealand facts for kids
An Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
|
|
| Founded | 26 April 1940 (as Tasman Empire Airways Limited) |
|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 1 April 1965 (as Air New Zealand) |
| Hubs | |
| Frequent-flyer program | Airpoints |
| Alliance | Star Alliance |
| Fleet size | 111 |
| Destinations | 50 |
| Headquarters | Wynyard Quarter, Auckland, New Zealand |
| Key people |
|
| Revenue |  NZ$2.73 billion (2022) |
| Operating income |  NZ$−4 million (2022) |
| Profit | NZ$−591 million (2022) |
| Total assets | NZ$8.35 billion (2022) |
| Total equity | NZ$1.68 billion (2022) |
| Employees | 8,863 (2022) |
Air New Zealand Limited (Māori: Araraurangi Aotearoa) is the main airline of New Zealand. It is often called the country's flag carrier. The airline is based in Auckland.
Air New Zealand flies to 20 places within New Zealand. It also flies to 30 international cities in 18 countries. Most of these destinations are in the Pacific Rim. Air New Zealand has been a part of the Star Alliance group of airlines since 1999.
The airline started on April 1, 1965. It took over from an older airline called Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL). At first, Air New Zealand only flew international routes. In 1978, the government combined it with the domestic airline New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC). This created one big airline under the Air New Zealand name.
Air New Zealand was sold to private owners in 1989. However, it returned to mostly government ownership in 2001. This happened after the airline faced big financial challenges from a partnership with an Australian airline called Ansett Australia. In 2017, Air New Zealand carried almost 16 million passengers.
Air New Zealand's flights mostly focus on Australasia and the South Pacific. It also has long-distance flights to eastern Asia and North America. The airline used to fly all the way around the world. These flights went to London Heathrow through Los Angeles and Hong Kong. The London flights stopped in 2020 because of strong competition and less demand.
The main hub for Air New Zealand is Auckland Airport. This airport is located near Māngere in Auckland. Air New Zealand's main office is called "The Hub". It is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Auckland Airport.
Air New Zealand uses different types of planes. Its jet fleet includes Airbus A320, Airbus A320neo family, Boeing 777, and Boeing 787 aircraft. For shorter regional flights, it uses ATR 72 and Bombardier Q300 turboprop planes.
Air New Zealand has won many awards. It was named "Airline of the Year" in 2010 and 2012 by the Air Transport World Global Airline Awards. In 2014, it was ranked the safest airline in the world by JACDEC.
History of Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand officially began on April 1, 1965. It was a new name for the airline previously known as Tasman Empire Airways Limited.
With new Douglas DC-8 planes, Air New Zealand started flying across the Pacific Ocean. In 1965, it added Los Angeles and Honolulu as destinations. Later, in 1973, the airline got larger McDonnell Douglas DC-10 planes. These DC-10s also introduced the new koru-inspired logo. This logo is still used by the airline today.
In 1978, the domestic airline National Airways Corporation (NAC) joined Air New Zealand. This merger created one national airline. NAC's Boeing 737 and Fokker F27 planes then became part of Air New Zealand's fleet. After the merger, Air New Zealand used two different codes for its flights. 'TE' was for international flights and 'NZ' for domestic flights. In 1990, all flights started using the 'NZ' code.
.jpg)
In 1981, Air New Zealand introduced its first Boeing 747 plane. A year later, it started flights to London through Los Angeles. The five 747-200 planes owned by Air New Zealand were all named after traditional Māori canoes. In 1985, Boeing 767-200ER planes were added. These planes filled the size gap between the smaller Boeing 737 and the larger 747. The older DC-8 and DC-10 planes were no longer used by 1983.
In 1989, the airline was sold to private companies. This group was led by Brierley Investments. Other airlines like Qantas, Japan Airlines, and American Airlines also owned parts of it. The New Zealand government also kept some ownership. In 1990, rules for air travel in New Zealand became more open. This led Air New Zealand to buy a 50% share in Ansett Australia in 1995.
In March 1999, Air New Zealand became a member of the Star Alliance. From 1999 to 2000, Air New Zealand was involved in a dispute over Ansett's ownership. This was with its co-owner News Limited. They were discussing whether to sell Ansett to Singapore Airlines.
Challenges and Changes in the 21st Century
In 2000, Air New Zealand decided to buy all of Ansett Transport Industries. This increased its share from 50% to 100%. The goal was to enter the Australian airline market. However, many business experts believe this was a big mistake. Ansett was much larger than Air New Zealand in terms of planes, staff, and facilities. Both airlines then started to face financial difficulties.
In September 2001, the Air New Zealand / Ansett Group faced major challenges. Air New Zealand decided to put Ansett Australia into a special management process. This led to Ansett stopping its flights. Air New Zealand announced a large financial loss. The New Zealand Government then stepped in to help. The government took an 82% ownership in the company.
_Air_New_Zealand_(6602001405).jpg)
In October 2001, Air New Zealand became mostly owned by the New Zealand government again. This was part of a rescue plan. This action saved Air New Zealand from stopping its operations.
In 2002, Air New Zealand changed its domestic flights to be more like a low-cost airline. The New Zealand government also turned down an offer from Qantas to buy a part of the airline. Air New Zealand started making a profit again in 2003. It continued to see more profits in 2004 and 2005. In 2004, the airline announced new seats for its long-distance flights. These included new business, premium economy, and economy class cabins.
In 2003, Air New Zealand added the Airbus A320 to its fleet for short international and domestic flights. In 2005, it received its first Boeing 777 (-200ER model). It also ordered Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes in 2004. Air New Zealand was the first airline to use the -9 version of the 787.
On December 21, 2010, the New Zealand government approved a partnership between Air New Zealand and Australian airline Virgin Blue (now Virgin Australia). This allowed both airlines to offer more flights between Australia and New Zealand. They shared flight codes and offered benefits for frequent flyer programs. Air New Zealand bought a 26% share in Virgin Australia Holdings to strengthen this partnership. However, Air New Zealand sold its remaining share in Virgin Australia by October 2016. The partnership officially ended on October 28, 2018.
In 2011, Air New Zealand added the Boeing 777-300ER to its fleet. It also introduced the Economy Skycouch. This is a set of three economy seats that can turn into a flat surface for sleeping. After a four-year delay, Air New Zealand received its first Boeing 787-9 on July 9, 2014. The airline stopped using its last Boeing 747 in September 2014. Its last Boeing 737 was retired in September 2015. The last Boeing 767 left the fleet in March 2017. This left the airline with a simpler fleet. It now uses Airbus A320 planes for short flights and Boeing 777 and 787 planes for long flights.
In November 2013, the New Zealand Government reduced its share in Air New Zealand from 73% to 53%. This was part of a government program to sell off some assets. The deal brought in $365 million New Zealand dollars.
In October 2019, the airline announced it would stop its Los Angeles to London route in October 2020. Instead, it would start a new direct flight from Auckland to New York. The London route was cancelled early in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The New York flight was delayed but started on September 17, 2022.
Air New Zealand announced a big update to its plane cabins in June 2022. New cabins will include a product called "The Skynest." These will be in new Boeing 787-9 and 787-10 planes, expected in 2024.
Air New Zealand's Business and Brand
.jpg)
.jpg)
Head Office Location
Air New Zealand's main office is called "The Hub." It is a large office park in Wynyard Quarter, Auckland. The office has two connected buildings, each with six levels. The building uses a lot of glass to let in sunlight. This helps to save electricity. The office does not have cubicle walls. Sensors in the building turn lights on when people are there. They turn lights off if no one is detected for 15 minutes. The buildings cost $60 million New Zealand dollars to build. About 1,000 employees moved into "The Hub" in late 2006. They came from four different buildings in Auckland CBD and other places.
The company also has offices at Smales Farm Business Park in Takapuna. This location is home to staff who work in the Contact Centre.
Airline Subsidiaries
A subsidiary is a company that is owned or controlled by another larger company. Air New Zealand Cargo is the only current subsidiary of Air New Zealand Limited.
Air New Zealand used to have regional airlines that it fully owned. These were Air Nelson, Mount Cook Airline, and Eagle Airways. They flew to regional places across New Zealand. Together, they were known as Air New Zealand Link. Eagle Airways stopped flying on August 26, 2016. Air Nelson and Mount Cook Airline also stopped in late 2019. Their operations were then combined into Air New Zealand's main business.
- Air Nelson was based in Nelson. It operated Bombardier Q300 planes.
- Mount Cook Airline was based in Christchurch. It operated ATR 72–500 and ATR 72–600 turboprop planes.
Another subsidiary company was Zeal320. It was created to help manage increasing staff costs. Zeal320 operated Air New Zealand's Airbus A320-200 planes for flights between New Zealand and Australia. These flights used the Air New Zealand brand. In 2015, Zeal320 was removed from the New Zealand Companies Office.
Sponsorships and Partnerships
Air New Zealand used to be the main sponsor of the Air New Zealand Cup. This was a domestic rugby union competition. The airline is still a big sponsor of New Zealand rugby. This includes the New Zealand national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks.
The airline also sponsors the Air New Zealand Wine Awards. It supports the World of Wearable Arts event. Air New Zealand also works with New Zealand's Department of Conservation and Antarctica New Zealand.
Brand and Plane Colors
The main symbol for Air New Zealand is a Māori koru. This is a special design that looks like an unfolding silver fern leaf. A new version of the logo was shown on March 21, 2006. The "Pacific Wave" stripes on the plane bodies were removed from short-haul aircraft in 2009. This made the overall look simpler.
On March 27, 2006, Air New Zealand showed off a new brand identity. This included new uniforms designed by Zambesi. There was also a new logo, new colors, and new check-in counters and lounges. The new uniforms used colors like greenstone, teal, schist, and slate. These colors are inspired by New Zealand's sea and sky. The greenstone color replaced the blue Pacific Wave color. This was inspired by the color of the pounamu, a valuable gemstone found in New Zealand. The Air New Zealand Koru design was used throughout all of Air New Zealand's signs and products.
Another rebranding was announced in July 2012. The airline stopped using the teal and green colors. These colors had been part of the airline since it started as Tasman Empire Airways (TEAL) in 1939. Black was chosen as the main brand color. This was a joint effort between the airline, a New Zealand design company called Designworks, and a famous Kiwi typographer, Kris Sowersby. He also created a new font for the logo. The tails of the planes and the logo font changed to black. The rest of the plane body stayed white.
The CEO at the time, Rob Fyfe, said that black felt right for the airline. He said it is the color of New Zealand and a natural choice for the national airline. He felt it showed pride and was part of the Kiwi identity. The airline started using black as its main color before a sponsorship campaign with New Zealand's rugby team, the All Blacks, in 2011.
A new look for the planes was announced on June 12, 2013. Air New Zealand made a deal with Tourism New Zealand. This allowed Air New Zealand to use the "New Zealand Fern Mark" on its planes. This fern logo is used by Tourism NZ and NZ Trade and Enterprise to promote New Zealand around the world.
Two new plane designs were shown. The first is mostly white with a black stripe going down the back of the plane from the tail. It has a white koru logo on the tail. The black and white fern mark is on the plane's body. This design is used on most of the planes. A few planes have an all-black design with a silver fern. This includes the airline's first Boeing 787–9. Surveys showed that 78% of people felt the Fern Mark fit with the airline's brand and represented New Zealand. The first plane with this new design was shown on September 24, 2013.
_(8919644543).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Special Plane Designs
.jpg)
.jpg)
Air New Zealand has used many special designs on its planes over the years:
- In 1973, the first McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 planes arrived with a "NZ74" logo. This was for the 1974 British Commonwealth Games.
- In 1984, pictures of the Buckingham Palace horse guards with 'London, Here We Come' were put on the side of new Boeing 747-200Bs.
- A special design with images of All Blacks rugby players was used on a Boeing 747–400. This plane took the team to the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
- In 1999, one Boeing 737–300 was painted with a 'New Millennium' design. This showed celebrations and the America's Cup regatta.
- In 2002 and 2003, Air New Zealand decorated three planes with The Lord of the Rings pictures. These were giant stickers. The pictures showed actors from the films against New Zealand landscapes.
- In 2008, one Boeing 737-300 was painted in a bright green Air New Zealand 'Holidays' design.
- In 2011 and 2012, two planes (an Airbus A320 and a Boeing 777-300ER) were painted with an All Blacks-inspired design. These planes were completely black with a silver fern design on the back.
- In November 2012, a Boeing 777-300ER (ZK-OKP) was repainted with the new "black-tail" design. It also had a large sticker promoting the first film in The Hobbit trilogy.
- In December 2013, before the second Hobbit movie, The Desolation of Smaug, Air New Zealand put two large images of the dragon Smaug on a Boeing 777-300ER.
- In October 2023, a leased Boeing 777-367ER (ZK-OKU) was painted all white. It features a black koru logo, which is different from the usual white one.
Where Air New Zealand Flies
Air New Zealand flies to 20 places within New Zealand. It also flies to 30 international places in 18 countries and regions. These include Asia, North America, and Oceania.
Air New Zealand used to operate some fifth freedom routes. This means they could fly between two foreign countries as part of a longer route. For example, they had weekly flights from Rarotonga to Sydney and Los Angeles. In 2012, Air New Zealand started twice-weekly flights from Sydney and Brisbane to Norfolk Island.
Sharing Flights with Other Airlines
Air New Zealand has agreements to share flights (called codeshare agreements) with these airlines:
On May 1, 2024, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission approved a plan to bring back a codeshare agreement between Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia. As of May 2024, there is no set date for when this will happen. The two airlines currently have an agreement to help passengers connect between their flights.
Air New Zealand's Fleet (Planes)
As of November 2023, Air New Zealand operates 108 planes. The jet fleet has 56 planes:
- 17 Airbus A320 planes
- 17 Airbus A320/A321neo planes for short flights
- 8 Boeing 777-300ER planes
- 14 Boeing 787–9 Dreamliner jet planes for long flights.
The airline has ordered six Airbus A321neo, two ATR 72s, and eight Boeing 787-9 planes.
The airline's turboprop fleet flies regional domestic services. It has 52 planes:
- 29 ATR 72–600 planes
- 23 De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q300 planes.
Services Offered
Cabins on Planes
Air New Zealand offers three types of cabins on its large Boeing 777 and 787 jets:
- Business class
- Premium economy class
- Economy class
On its smaller Airbus A320/A321 jets and turboprop planes, the airline offers a single economy class cabin.
Air New Zealand Lounge
The Air New Zealand Lounge is a network of special airport lounges around the world. Members of Air New Zealand's frequent flyer program, including Koru members, can use these lounges.
Airpoints Program
Airpoints is Air New Zealand's frequent flyer program. Members earn "Airpoints Dollars." These can be used like New Zealand dollars to pay for any Air New Zealand flights. Members can also reach different status levels: Silver, Gold, and Gold Elite. They earn "Status Points" to reach these levels. Airpoints Gold and Airpoints Gold Elite members get the same benefits as Star Alliance Gold status members across the Star Alliance network. Airpoints Silver status is similar to Star Alliance Silver.
Airpoints members earn Status Points for almost every Air New Zealand flight. They also earn points for many flights with Star Alliance partner airlines. Status Points help members reach a higher status faster.
Future Fuels for Planes
In 2008, Air New Zealand and Boeing looked into developing an aviation biofuel. They researched the jatropha plant to see if it could be a good green alternative to regular fuel. On December 30, 2008, they did a two-hour test flight. They used a mix of 50% new biofuel and 50% Jet A-1 in one of the airline's 747-400 engines. After the flight, the engine was checked. No differences were found between using the jatropha blend and regular Jet A1. Jatropha could be a future fuel, but large areas of land would be needed to grow it.
Awards Received
- In 2020, Air New Zealand won "Best airline in Airline Excellence Awards 2020" from AirlineRatings.com.
- In 2023, Air New Zealand won AirlineRatings.com's Airline of the Year award for 2023.
Baggage Tracker Policy
In 2022, Air New Zealand and Star Alliance member Lufthansa briefly stopped allowing baggage trackers. However, these bans were removed in 2023.
See Also
In Spanish: Air New Zealand para niños
- Air transport in New Zealand
- List of airports in New Zealand
- List of airlines of New Zealand
- Transport in New Zealand
