Monday 26 April 2021

Happy Birthday Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand Limited is the flag carrier airline of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, the airline, before Covid-19, operated scheduled passenger flights to 20 domestic and 32 international destinations in 20 countries, primarily around and within the Pacific Rim. 

Air New Zealand's story began on the 26th April 1940 when its forerunner airline, Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL) was incorporated. Founded on the 26th April 1940, it started operations four days later, on the 30th April. Its first flight, flown with a Short S30 flying boat, connecting Auckland and Sydney. 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 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 introduced the larger DC-10 to their fleet. 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. 


Their first 747-200 arrived on the 22nd May 1981 (ZK-NZV CN 22722) and their last Boeing 747-400, affectionately referred to by pilots as "Daddy's Yacht", completed its final flight on the 12th September 2014 landing in Auckland from San Francisco.  ZK-NBV (CN 26910) was that aircraft.


AIR NEW ZEALAND B747-419 ZK-NBV (MSN 26910)

AIR NEW ZEALAND B747-419 ZK-NBT (MSN 24855)

On the 8th July 2014 ANZ took delivery of their first state of the art B787-9 Dreamliners (ZK-NZE 34334) The first aircraft was handed over to Air New Zealand at the Everett plant, and arrived in Auckland three days later. The first 787-9 service operated on 9 August 2014, from Auckland to Sydney and return

AIR NEW ZEALAND B787-9 ZK-NZE (MSN 34334)

At the start of June 2014, Air New Zealand announced it would be placing a NZ$1.6 billion order with Airbus for thirteen Airbus A320neo and Airbus A321neo aircraft.  The airline’s first A321neo was unveiled on the 26th September 2018 and arrived in Auckland on the 5th November. The aircraft entered revenue service on the 23rd November 2018, operating between Auckland and Brisbane.

AIR NEW ZEALAND A320-271 ZK-NHA (MSN 8715)

AIR NEW ZEALAND A321-271 ZK-NNA (MSN 8496)

AIR NEW ZEALAND A321-271 ZK-NNC (MSN 8573)

Air New Zealand's mainline fleet consists of Boeing aircraft for long-haul flights, and Airbus aircraft for domestic- and short-haul international flights. Its wholly owned subsidies, Mount Cook Airline, Eagle Air and Air Nelson, operate ATR 72 and Bombardier Q300 turboprop aircraft. Air New Zealand had wholly owned subsidiary regional airlines and together they made up Air New Zealand Link. On the 26th August 2016 Eagle Airways ceased operations, and in late 2019 Air Nelson and Mount Cook Airline were merged into its parent's operations.

AIR NEW ZEALAND BEECH 1900 ZK-EAC (MSN UE-426)
OPERATED BY EAGLE AIR

AIR NEW ZEALAND DASH 8 Q311 ZK-NEA (MSN 611)

AIR NEW ZEALAND ATR 72-212 ZK-MVD (MSN 1117)
OPERATED BY MOUNT COOK AIRLINES



AIR NEW ZEALAND A320-232 ZK-OJF (MSN 2153)


AIR NEW ZEALAND B767-319 ZK-NCI (MSN 26913)

Air New Zealand has had some amazing liveries in the past

AIR NEW ZEALAND B777-319 ZK-OKO (MSN 38407)

AIR NEW ZEALAND B777-319 ZK-OKP (MSN 39401)

AIR NEW ZEALAND B777-319 ZK-OKQ (MSN 40689)


Air New Zealand's current fleet as of the 1st April 2021 is as below. 

Airbus A320        25
Airbus A320 Neo   4
Airbus A320-200  21

Airbus A321          7
Airbus A321 Neo    7

ATR 42/72           28           
ATR 72                28

Boeing 777            3
Boeing 777-300     3* Stored

Boeing 787          14
Boeing 787-9       14

Dash 8                 23
Dash 8-300          22
Dash 8-300            1* Stored

The airline is a Star Alliance member has been a member since 1999.

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