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Air New Zealand is the national carrier of New Zealand.Founded in 1941 as Tasman Empire Airways limited, it has been a member of the Star Alliance since 1999.

Fleet[]

As of April 2019, Air New Zealand and its subsidiaries operate 113 aircraft. The Air New Zealand mainline fleet consists of Boeing jet aircraft for long-haul flights and Airbus jet aircraft for domestic and short-haul flights. Air New Zealand's two wholly owned subsidies, Mount Cook Airline and Air Nelson, operate ATR-72 and Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 turboprop aircraft respectively.

Air New Zealand utilises 7 Boeing 777-300ERs and 8 777-200ERs in it's long haul fleet, not taking into account the one 777-300ER currently being leased by EVA Air. The 777-300ERs are primarily used for flights to America, including Air New Zealand's flagship route to London Heathrow via Los Angeles. 777-200ERs are used on a larger variety of routes, including those such as Hong Kong, Rarotonga, Pape'ete and Sydney.

Air New Zealand became the launch customer of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in 2014, also being the first airline to select a Rolls-Royce power-plant on the type. As of September 2019, Air New Zealand operates 13 787s, including two ex-Boeing test aircraft. Their last 787-9 reportedly due in October.

ZK-NZQ 787-9 Air New Zealand Auckland

Air New Zealand's most recent 787 at Auckland Airport

In the holiday period of 2017 and 2018, Air New Zealand suffered two engine failures onboard 787-9 Dreamliners within a short timeframe. This was caused by low durability in the fanblades of the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 turbofan engines selected by the airline, and as result, mass groundings occurred by regulation for all airlines operating the type with Rolls-Royce engines, causing an increased frequency of airframe checks significantly. At any one time, three Air New Zealand 787s would be grounded for airframe checks, leading to the airline's decision to wet-lease two A340-300s and an A330-200 from lease firm Hi-Fly Malta. In April of 2018 the decision was made to dry-lease two Singapore Airlines 777-200ERs and one EVA Air 777-300ER to cover for the 787s in the long term. As of September 2019 only the 777-300ER remains, due to return to EVA Air in March 2020.

Air New Zealand also became the first A320neo operator in the Oceanic region. The airline took delivery of their

ZK-NNA A321neo Air New Zealand Auckland

Air New Zealand's first A321neo at Auckland Airport.

first A321neo in October 2018, adorning their renowned all black 'black beauty' livery. The first A320neo was delivered to the airline later, in February 2019. The fleet currently consists of 6 A321neos and 3 A320neos, with a further 3 A320neos due and 8 A321neos due.

The A320neos are destined to replace the 14 A320ceos currently used on short-haul international flights to destinations in Australia and the Pacific. A further 16 aircraft are used exclusively on domestic flights between Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Queenstown and Wellington.

In June of 2019 Air New Zealand announced an order of 8 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners to replace the ageing 777-200ER fleet. Deliveries are due in 2023, some reports saying Boeing will offer a range extension to the airline.

Accidents and incidents[]

Air New Zealand has been involved in seven accidents and incidents, including four hull loss accidents.

Flight Date Aircraft Location Cause Number on board Fatalities Serious injuries Minor injuries
ZK-NZB July 4, 1966 Douglas DC-8-52 Auckland Airport, New Zealand Pilot error 5 2 3 0
TE103 December 22, 1978 McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Pacific Ocean Navigational disorientation 1 0 0 0
NZ4374 February 17, 1979 Fokker F27 Friendship Auckland, New Zealand Controlled flight into terrain 4 2 2 0
TE901 November 28, 1979 McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Mt. Erebus, Antarctica Controlled flight into terrain 257 257 0 0
TE24 May 19, 1987 Boeing 747-200 Nadi International Airport, Fiji Hijacking 129 0 0 0
NZ2279 February 8, 2009 British Aerospace Jetstream Christchurch International Airport, New Zealand Hijacking 9 0 3 0
X4888T November 27, 2008 Airbus A320-232 Mediterranean Sea near France Loss of control in low-speed stall due to pitot tube icing 7 7 0 0

Destinations[]

City Airport IATA ICAO Notes
Buenos Aires, Argentina Ministro Pistarini International Airport EZE SAEZ
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Adelaide Airport ADL YPAD
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Brisbane Airport BNE YBBN
Cairns, Queensland, Australia Cairns Airport CNS YBCS Seasonal
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia Gold Coast Airport OOL YBCG
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Melbourne Airport MEL YMML
Norfolk Island, Australia Norfolk Island Airport NLK YSNF Only operated from Brisbane and Sydney.
Perth, Western Australia, Australia Perth Airport PER YPPH
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia Sunshine Coast Airport MCY YBSU Seasonal
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Sydney Airport SYD YSSY
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Vancouver International Airport YVR CYVR
Shanghai, China Shanghai Pudong International Airport PVG ZSPD
Rarotonga, Cook Islands Rarotonga International Airport RAR NCRG
Nadi, Fiji Nadi International Airport NAN NFFN
Papeete, French Polynesia Fa'a'ā International Airport PPT NTAA
Hong Kong Hong Kong International Airport HKG VHHH
Denpasar, Indonesia Ngurah Rai International Airport DPS WADD Seasonal
Osaka, Japan Kansai International Airport KIX RJBB Seasonal
Tokyo, Japan Narita International Airport NRT RJAA
Noumea, New Caledonia La Tontouta International Airport NOU NWWW
Auckland, New Zealand Auckland Airport AKL NZAA Hub
Christchurch, New Zealand Christchurch International Airport CHC NZCH Hub
Dunedin, New Zealand Dunedin Airport DUD NZDN
Invercargill, New Zealand Invercargill Airport IVC NZNV
Queenstown, New Zealand Queenstown Airport ZQN NZQN Hub
Wellington, New Zealand Wellington International Airport WLG NZWN Hub
Alofi, Niue Niue International Airport IUE NIUE
Apia, Samoa Faleolo International Airport APW NSFA
Singapore Singapore Changi Airport SIN WSSS Additional flights in winter.
Seoul, South Korea Incheon International Airport ICN RKSI Begins November 23, 2019
Taipei, Taiwan Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport TPE RCTP
Nuku'alofa, Tonga Fua'amoto International Airport TBU NFTF
London, England, United Kingdom London Heathrow International Airport LHR EGLL
Chicago, Illinois, United States Chicago O'Hare International Airport ORD KORD
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Daniel K. Inouye International Airport HNL PHNL
Houston, Texas, United States George Bush Intercontinental Airport IAH KIAH
Los Angeles, California, United States Los Angeles International Airport LAX KLAX Focus city
San Francisco, California, United States San Francisco International Airport SFO KSFO

Fleet Gallery[]

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