Air New Zealand celebrates its suppliers
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran says the airline spends more than $3.4 billion* annually with its suppliers, so the event was a great way to celebrate and thank them for their contribution over the past three years.
"Our suppliers are an integral part of keeping Air New Zealand operating. We're incredibly grateful for every one of these partnerships, particularly after three years of a challenging operating environment.
"We first launched these awards in 2019 to come together and celebrate the fantastic contributions our suppliers make to Air New Zealand. The airline wouldn't be where it is today without them."
Christchurch Airport took out the evening's supreme award – the Tūhono Award as well as the Sustainability Award. The company is developing Kōwhai Park, a 400-hectare renewable energy precinct sitting just beside the runways and is a partner with Air New Zealand in the recently launched New Zealand Aviation Hydrogen Consortium.
"Our future depends on the global transition to net zero by 2050. For Air New Zealand to keep connecting New Zealanders with each other and the world, we must decarbonise our operations.
"Kōwhai Park is a fantastic example of how Christchurch Airport is leading other airports globally with its carbon reduction work.
"Aviation can only decarbonise if the entire sector comes together to innovate and collaborate. Christchurch Airport epitomises the approach needed to help solve what is our most significant challenge. We admire their leadership in this area and are proud to partner with them."
Air New Zealand's Tūhono Supplier Awards winners are:
Customer Impact Award
For a supplier who has made an outstanding contribution to Air New Zealand's customer experience or customer journey.
Winner: Flight Interiors
Flight Interiors has been supplying and managing soft furnishings for Air New Zealand's aircraft interiors for more than 30 years.
Operational Excellence Award
For a supplier who has made an outstanding contribution to Air New Zealand's operational performance.
Winner: Deane Apparel
Deane Apparel have supplied Air New Zealand uniforms since the roll out of the Trelise Cooper uniform in 2011.
Innovation Award
For a supplier who has created, driven and delivered world-class innovate solutions that have benefited Air New Zealand
Winner: Flight Keys
Flight Keys provide a flight planning software solution to Air New Zealand that has enabled more accurate and faster flight planning and reduced paper usage.
Sustainability Award
For a supplier who has made an outstanding contribution towards Air New Zealand's sustainability strategy.
Winner: Christchurch International Airport Limited
Christchurch Airport is working with Air New Zealand to progress a more sustainable aviation industry in Aotearoa.
Regional Partnership Award
For a regional New Zealand supplier that consistently demonstrates outstanding performance and punches above their weight in supercharging regional New Zealand.
Winner: Beacon Group
Beacon Group supports the airline's ramp and back of house operations at Dunedin Airport.
Best International Partnership Award
For an international supplier who has created mutual value through strategic alignment and delivery of key initiatives to keep Air New Zealand at the forefront of aviation and tourism.
Winner: PACTL
PACTL provides ground handling services in Shanghai for Air New Zealand's cargo business.
Best New Zealand Partnership Award
For a New Zealand supplier who has created mutual value through strategic alignment and delivery of key initiatives to keep Air New Zealand at the forefront of aviation and tourism.
Winner: Rako Science
Rako Science partnered with Air New Zealand to introduce saliva testing for Air New Zealand's workforce during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tūhono Award
The supreme award with the winner selected from among the individual category award winners. For a supplier who has demonstrated commitment to its relationship with Air New Zealand by regularly stepping up and above and beyond for the airline.
Winner: Christchurch International Airport Limited
Ends
*This excludes labour spend.
Issued by Air New Zealand Communications.
Email: media@airnz.co.nz │Twitter: @AirNZMedia
About Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand's story started in 1940, first taking to the skies between Auckland and Sydney on a flying boat - a Short S30. Known for its warm Kiwi hospitality, today, the airline has 104 operating aircraft ranging from Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus A320s to ATRs and Q300s, offering customers comfort in the latest most efficient jets and turboprops. It's a modern fuel-efficient fleet with an average age of 7.3 years. Air New Zealand's global network of passenger and cargo services centres around New Zealand. Pre-Covid, the airline flew more than 17 million passengers every year, with 3,400 flights per week. Air New Zealand was recently named the World's Safest Airline by the Australian rating service AirlineRatings.com, highlighting the airline's laser-focus on safety. Last year, Air New Zealand won Best Corporate Reputation in New Zealand – 8th year in a row.
Air New Zealand has a well-connected domestic business, connecting customers and cargo to 20 different regions around New Zealand. Internationally, the airline has direct flights to major cities across Australia, Asia, the Pacific Islands and the US, and through its strong relationships with alliance partners, offers customers more choice and convenience to connect further afield to hundreds of destinations. Air New Zealand has a particular focus on sustainability and its Sustainability Framework helps guide the airline's efforts in tackling some of New Zealand's and the world's most complex challenges. Air New Zealand aircraft are proudly identified by its distinct tail livery of the Mangōpare, the Māori symbol of the hammerhead shark which represents strength, tenacity, and resilience.
About Star Alliance
Air New Zealand is proud to be a member of Star Alliance. The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award and Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 18,500 daily flights to 1,321 airports in 193 countries.