Black Ferns welcomed onboard Air New Zealand with new partnership
The partnership with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) includes both the Black Ferns and All Blacks, and runs until the end of 2023 to support the promotion of New Zealand rugby on the world stage.
Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty says Air New Zealand is honoured to work together to help promote women's rugby in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world.
"We're delighted about teaming up with the Black Ferns to become their official airline. The Black Ferns are one of the most successful women's rugby teams in the world. They captured the hearts of the nation as we felt overwhelming pride with their incredible win at the Rugby World Cup last year, showcasing great grit and skill on the field."
Air New Zealand is also proud to be supporting the boys in black as they take on the Rugby World Cup in France later this year.
"The All Blacks and Air New Zealand have always shared the goal of being the absolute best at what we do and are both training hard to be better than ever before," says Ms Geraghty.
"As the official airline of the All Blacks, we've had the privilege of being a part of their journey for 20 years. We have been a long-time supporter of rugby in New Zealand and look forward to continuing this partnership and supporting the team as they strive for success.
"Rugby is more than just a sport in New Zealand – it is a part of our culture and our identity. It brings people together, unites communities, is a source of pride and inspiration for all New Zealanders. Through our partnership with these two great teams, we aim to promote rugby and inspire future generations of players and fans."
NZR CEO Mark Robinson says NZR is excited to have Air New Zealand as the official airline for both the Black Ferns and the All Blacks.
"Air New Zealand has been passionate about supporting and promoting rugby and the black jersey, nationally and globally for the last 20 years. We are looking forward to this partnership continuing through the support of the Black Ferns and All Blacks, and to Air New Zealand joining New Zealand Rugby in promoting the growth of the women's game across New Zealand and abroad."
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Issued by Air New Zealand Communications.
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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.