Media Releases 2011

More Air New Zealand passengers will be travelling in style with the trial of a new offer based system for last minute long haul seat upgrades.

Air New Zealand has revealed the world’s largest commercially operated aircraft to be painted completely black.

Long term international aviation executive to head Star Alliance organisation.

At a ceremony held at Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB) welcomed Ethiopian Airlines as the Alliance’s third carrier based on the African continent.

Air New Zealand’s newest Boeing 777-300ER has entered Boeing’s Seattle painting facility to receive a make over that will see it become the world’s largest commercially operated aircraft painted all black.

Frankfurt, Germany - December 7^th, 2011 - The Star Alliance Network and Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) are teaming up to offer one lucky winner a luxurious trip around the world for two people!

Rico, Air New Zealand's furry mascot, has passed away while hosting a celeb-packed house-warming party in his Los Angeles mansion.

Air New Zealand has this morning reduced its lowest domestic airfares by an average six per cent with the launch of Seats to Suit style fares.

Air New Zealand is launching a new Airpoints membership card loaded with smart new features intended to transform its popular loyalty card into the ultimate travel companion.

The Boeing 787 will touch down in New Zealand for the first time on Saturday morning 12 November at Auckland International Airport.

Mt Cook is set to become the 28^th domestic destination on Air New Zealand’s network with the airline announcing today the trial of a new Christchurch/Mt Cook/Queenstown route in the summer of 2012-2013.

Air New Zealand resumes its direct services from Japan into Christchurch on Tuesday 1 November, with a Boeing 777-200 flight from Narita, Tokyo.

Air New Zealand has ordered seven new-generation ATR72-600 aircraft with purchase options for a further five worth a total list price of US$270 million.

Air New Zealand is marking five years of flying to China with the launch of an amazing $1399 fare offer to encourage even more Kiwis to discover this incredible holiday destination.

Air New Zealand has increased its relevant interest in Australian-based airline Virgin Australia from 14.99 percent to 19.99 percent. The increased interest was acquired at 29.7 cents per share.

From today travellers on the direct Auckland - Perth route can enjoy the flexibility of booking Air New Zealand’s Seats to Suit fares.

FRANKFURT, Germany - August 31, 2011 - Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Star Alliance Services GmbH, has been proposed by the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG to become Chairman of the Board and CEO of Austrian Airlines AG as of November 1^st, 2011. The nomination is to be considered by the Supervisory Board of the airline at its next meeting in September.

Air New Zealand today announced normalised earnings* before taxation of $75 million for the 12 months to 30 June 2011.

SAFE Air Ltd can confirm that an engineer died during routine maintenance operation at its base in Blenheim this morning.

Jane Freeman will step down from the Air New Zealand Board following the board meeting on 24 August 2011.

Air New Zealand flew an aircraft into Kapiti Coast Airport (Paraparaumu) for the first time today. 

Customers travelling on the Star Alliance network now have access to all Alliance related travel information through their iPhone.

Air New Zealand’s furry friend to the stars, Rico, has today launched his new series of celebrity YouTube interviews, with David Hasselhoff the first to experience Rico’s cheeky interrogation style in the hot seat that is the Air New Zealand Skycouch.

Air New Zealand has taken top honours for marketing at the 10th annual Airline Strategy Awards in London.

AUCKLAND and BRISBANE, 8 July, 2011 - Air New Zealand and the Virgin Australia group of airlines today launched their trans-Tasman alliance, with reciprocal codeshare flights on each other’s trans-Tasman networks and applicable connecting domestic services going on sale for travel from July 26.

Star Alliance, the way the Earth connects, today announced that its Chief Executive Board (CEB) has unanimously approved the application of Shenzhen Airlines to join Star Alliance.

The New Zealand MetService has advised that volcanic ash is expected at altitudes above 20,000 ft for parts of the lower South Island from tomorrow morning (Wednesday 29 June).

Air New Zealand’s grabaseat is celebrating half a decade of ludicrously low airfares in rock-star style, taking two jumbo jets to Las Vegas with a convoy of more than 700 Kiwis in tow.

Air New Zealand’s furry friend to the stars, Rico, is the talk of the town in Hollywood this week, interviewing several global celebrities including David Hasselhoff, Giuliana Rancic and Lindsay Lohan for a new online series.

Hawaiian Airlines and Air New Zealand Technical Operations have renewed the contract for heavy maintenance of Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 767 fleet at Air New Zealand’s Auckland engineering base.

Following the latest Metservice forecast, Air New Zealand will recommence services into and out of Queenstown from midday today.

Air New Zealand will resume operations in the lower South Island this afternoon following a new forecast from the New Zealand Metservice.

Air New Zealand confirms that as a result of increased volcanic ash activity in the south of the South Island a number of services were cancelled this evening to and from Christchurch and points south.

Christchurch Airport’s runway has reopened, with Air New Zealand resuming its operations to and from the city, although with some delays for the remainder of the evening.

Air New Zealand flights to and from Christchurch are currently on hold while Christchurch International Airport Limited evaluates if there is any damage to the airport following the magnitude 6 earthquake this afternoon.

Air New Zealand does not currently expect delays or cancellations to its domestic or international services as a result of volcanic ash currently in New Zealand airspace.

Investigations are continuing on the Boeing 767-300 aircraft operating as NZ175 yesterday afternoon from Auckland to Perth.

Air New Zealand flight NZ175 from Auckland to Perth returned to Auckland this afternoon after the pilot of the Boeing 767-300ER aircraft reported a problem with the left hand engine shortly after the 2.25pm take off.

Altitude Aerospace Interiors has landed its second major VIP aircraft completion contract which will see it outfit a Boeing Business Jet 737 (BBJ) VIP aircraft with a luxurious state of the art interior for a sub continental client.

Air New Zealand is slashing $150 off all return journeys from New Zealand to Australia for the next six months in one of its biggest sales.

Air New Zealand will be increasing its international capacity to China and Japan for its upcoming Northern Winter schedule.

Air New Zealand and the Queenstown Community Strategic Assets Group Inc have today withdrawn their cases against Auckland International Airport Limited over its shareholding in Queenstown Airport (QAC).

Air New Zealand is today launching a specialist Aviation Institute which will provide a comprehensive range of training covering most airline industry roles within a single organisation.

Air New Zealand today welcomed the decision by the New Zealand Commerce Commission to discontinue proceedings against individual employees of its Cargo business.

Air New Zealand, has received government approval for its code share agreement with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. The new code share services will be available for sale from April 14 2011, for travel from April 18.

Just three days since its launch, Air New Zealand’s new “Fit to Fly” safety video featuring US fitness legend Richard Simmons has now been viewed more than a million times on YouTube.

Working with some of the biggest names in the music industry including Dr. Dre, Justin Timberlake and Katy Perry, international hip-hop sensation Snoop Dogg laid down the beats earlier this month with Kiwis’ favourite risqué puppet, Rico.

Air New Zealand considers media releases today by Qantas and by the Commerce Commission to be misleading and defamatory.

Air New Zealand is increasing domestic and international fares as a result of the rising cost of jet fuel.

Jan Dawson, currently the chair and chief executive of KPMG, will join the board of Air New Zealand on 1 April.

Air New Zealand is continuing to add further capacity into and out of Christchurch to meet high demand, especially for people wishing to leave Christchurch.

Air New Zealand is releasing its half year result today, at a very sad time when the company focus is on the disaster in Christchurch and what we can do to assist.

All available fares on Air New Zealand domestic services from any point on the domestic network to/from Christchurch for booking and travel through until 8am Friday morning are available for $50 one way.

Air New Zealand services to and from Christchurch up until 7pm this evening are cancelled pending the completion of infrastructure and runway inspections by Christchurch Airport.

Air New Zealand flights to and from Christchurch are currently on hold while Christchurch International Airport Limited evaluates if there is any damage to the airport following the 6.3 magnitude earthquake this afternoon.

Air New Zealand announced today that it will continue to operate additional flights between Dunedin and Auckland on three days per week following a successful trial of these services over the last few months.

Air New Zealand is launching an online airport taxi booking service that promises to save customers time and money.

Grabaseat is now working with GrabOne.co.nz to offer savvy travellers great deals on activities to complement their grabaseat holiday.

Wellingtonians will get their first chance to see Air New Zealand’s brand new Boeing 777-300ER when it touches down at Wellington Airport tomorrow as part of a special visit to the capital city.

Air New Zealand, in partnership with Vodafone and OnAir, today announced it will be enabling its new black A320 with mobile phone and data capability.

Paraparaumu is set to become the 27th domestic airport serviced by Air New Zealand, with its subsidiary Air Nelson beginning scheduled commercial services between Auckland and the Kapiti Coast from Labour Weekend this year.

Air New Zealand announced last evening that it had acquired a substantial shareholding in Australian-based airline Virgin Blue.

Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic have signed a code sharing agreement offering more flexibility and choice on routings between the UK and New Zealand for both carriers’ passengers.

Air New Zealand is welcoming news that Guangzhou based China Southern Airlines will begin a new direct service to Auckland early this year.