Happy Birthday Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand's story began on the 26th April 1940 when its forerunner airline, Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL) was incorporated. TEAL began its first trans-Tasman services with flying boats, and over the years steadily expanded the size and scope of its operations and the extent of its international network. The route network was expanded from Australia and the Pacific to Asia, the USA, the UK and Europe. In October 1953 TEAL became jointly owned by the New Zealand and Australian Governments, and in April 1961 the New Zealand Government assumed full ownership.
In addition to TEAL operating international services, the New Zealand Government established NZ National Airways Corporation (NAC) in 1947. NAC was the primary operator of domestic air services between major centres and provincial cities and towns, and along with TEAL would later form the basis for today's Air New Zealand. In December 1951 a flying boat service from Auckland via Fiji and the Cook Islands to Tahiti began - it was known as the "Coral Route". Samoa became part of this route in 1952. The inaugural flight was made in a MK III Solent Flying Boat called Aparima.

In April 1965 TEAL was renamed Air New Zealand Limited, and continued operating solely international services. 1965 also heralded the beginning of the jet era for Air New Zealand, with the arrival in July of the first DC-8 jet aircraft. The new jets meant that Air New Zealand could expand operations to North America and Asia, becoming a truly international airline. In 1973, Air New Zealand also introduced the larger DC-10. The airline operated with a combined DC-8 and DC-10 fleet until the 1980s, when the larger Boeing 747 began to replace the older jets. The first 747 arrived in May 1981.
Thirteen years after TEAL was renamed Air New Zealand, Air New Zealand and NAC merged in April 1978, forming the first New Zealand carrier to offer both international and domestic services. During the 1980s and 1990s Air New Zealand continued to expand its international network, particularly to Asian cities like Taipei, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka.
Air New Zealand's longest haul is a 14 hour, (11,500 km) flight from Vancouver to Auckland
Air New Zealand is a member of the Star Alliance, the world's largest multi-national alliance, providing access to 965 airports in 162 countries
Cities Air New Zealand fly to are

New Zealand
Auckland
Christchurch
Dunedin
Queenstown
Wellington
NZ Regional Flights

Australia
Adelaide
Brisbane
Gold Coast
Melbourne
Perth
Sunshine Coast
Sydney

North America
Vancouver
Los Angeles
San Francisco
Hawaii

Pacific Islands
Fiji
Noumea, New Caledonia
Niue
Norfolk Island
Rarotonga
Samoa
Tahiti
Tonga
Vanuatu

Asia
Bali
Hong Kong
Shanghai
Tokyo

London and Argentina are also home to Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand currently have 107 aircraft and with another 19 on order this will take them to 126 aircraft. Their current fleet are


 AIRCRAFT TYPE            CURRENT / ORDERED

B777-300ER	7
B777-200ER	8
B787-900	3	9
B767-300ER	5
Airbus A320 - Short haul	13
Airbus A320 - Domestic	12	3
B737-300	4
Turbo-props
ATR72-600	6	7
ATR72-500	11
Q300	23
Beech 1900D	15

AIR NEW ZEALAND RAYTHEON 1900 ZK-EAM (CN VE-436)

AIR NEW ZEALAND (MOUNT COOK) ATR 72-500
ZK-MCJ (CN 624)

AIR NEW ZEALAND B 737-319 ZK-NGI (CN 25608)

AIR NEW ZEALAND IN STAR ALLIANCE SCHEME
ZK-OJH A320-232 (CN 2257)

AIR NEW ZEALAND (NEW COLOUR SCHEME)
ZK-OKC B777-219 (CN 34371)

AIR NEW ZEALAND  IN "THE HOBBIT SMAUG" SCHEME
ZK-OKO B777-219 (CN 32712) 

AIR NEW ZEALAND IN "THE HOBBIT UNEXPECTED JOURNEY"
SCHEME ZK-OKP B777-319ER (CN 39041)
 

AIR NEW ZEALAND IN THE "ALL BLACKS" SCHEME
ZK-OKQ B777-319ER (CN 40689)

AIR NEW ZEALAND IN THE "ALL BLACKS" SCHEME
B787-900 ZK-NZE (CN 34334)

AIR NEW ZEALANDS LAST B747-400 ZK-NBV (CN 26910)
BEING STRIPPED OF ITS DECALS BEFORE HEADING
OFF OVER SEAS

Information sourced from Wikipedia and the Air New Zealand website