Media Releases - 2008

The world's first commercial aviation test flight powered by a sustainable second-generation biofuel is ready to go next Tuesday, 30 December 2008.

Air New Zealand's Australian-based aerospace engineering services company TAE has added to its stable of businesses with the purchase of well-known aviation service provider Tenix Aviation Pty Limited.

Air New Zealand has purchased Boeing 787 and Boeing 777-300 full-flight simulators to be based at its Auckland simulator centre.

Air New Zealand shares the New Zealand Commerce Commission view that cartels are insidious and anti-competitive and that any price fixing activities should be prosecuted by the appropriate authorities.

More than 20 family and friends together with Air New Zealand and government support teams gathered on Canet Beach this afternoon to remember the five New Zealanders and two German pilots tragically lost in the Airbus A320 accident last Thursday, 27 November (French time).

Air New Zealand is calling on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to demonstrate consistency when making a final ruling on its application for a Cooperation Agreement with Air Canada.

More than 20 family and friends of the New Zealanders lost in the A320 accident will be in Perpignan by tomorrow.

Air New Zealand will next week revolutionise the domestic travel experience with a range of technical and design innovations that will help customers save time and get through the airport faster.

Air New Zealand is making it much easier and faster for customers to work their way up the tiers of its popular Airpoints frequent flyer programme.

Air New Zealand will suspend services between Hamilton and Sydney and the Gold Coast during the traditionally lower demand period from 29 March to 24 October 2009.

Air New Zealand will launch a new direct service between Masterton and Auckland from Monday 16 February 2009.

Air New Zealand can confirm that French search and rescue divers have found a third body and the cockpit of the A320.

Mike and Colleen White, the parents of Murray White, have asked Air New Zealand to issue the following statement on their behalf:

Air New Zealand today announced a range of pricing and capacity changes in response to the continued high cost of fuel and changes in demand.

The following statement is issued on behalf of Captain Brian Horrell's wife, Shellie, and the family. The statement was written with the support of some of Brian's closest colleagues.

Air New Zealand's trans-Tasman and Pacific Island airfares are to rise by an average three percent as a result of ever increasing fuel prices.

Sunday 30 March will see the departure of Air New Zealand's first direct service to New Zealand from the Gold Coast.

Air New Zealand is providing specialist support to the two pilots and seven customers involved in this morning's Eagle Air incident.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Rob Fyfe has arrived in Perpignan this evening with family members of missing Auckland-based Air New Zealand engineer Murray White.

Family members of two of the five New Zealanders lost in the A320 crash will travel to France tonight.

Air New Zealand and key aviation partners will demonstrate the potential for the commercial aviation industry to reduce carbon emissions by millions of tonnes annually, with a test flight between Auckland and San Francisco.

French search and rescue teams are working in deteriorating weather conditions to try and retrieve the two flight recorders from the A320 on lease to Germany's XL Airways that was lost in the Mediterranean yesterday.

A ground-breaking initiative at San Francisco Airport to increase the efficiency of air traffic is resulting in significant fuel and emission savings for Air New Zealand.

French search and rescue authorities have advised they now have locator signals from the two black box flight recorders from the Airbus A320 that was on lease to XL Airways of Germany and lost in the Mediterranean yesterday.

Air New Zealand can now confirm the name of its fourth staff member who is missing after our Airbus A320 on lease to XL Airways from Germany was lost in the Mediterranean Sea this morning.

An Airbus A320 operated by XL Airways of Germany has been lost in the Mediterranean.

The world's first commercial aviation flight powered by a sustainable second-generation biofuel moved a step closer this week.

Air New Zealand is to double the number of available Pacific Premium Economy seats on its fleet of eight 777-200ER aircraft in line with unprecedented demand.

Air New Zealand estimates it will save more than NZ$7.5 million in fuel and 16,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually by fitting performance-enhancing blended winglets on to its five Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.

Air New Zealand is a step closer to its bio-fuel test flight using a 747-400 aircraft, with the refining of the sustainable fuel underway in the US.

Paul Bingham, one of New Zealand's top tourism operators, has been appointed to the Air New Zealand Board as an additional non executive Director.

Customers flying on Air New Zealand 777 and 747 aircraft can now enjoy their personal seat-back entertainment system from the moment they sit down till the moment the aircraft lands.

Air New Zealand's fuel savings initiative programme is on track to see the airline reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by more than 100,000 tonnes.

Air New Zealand is to establish an aviation academy to develop and nurture home-grown pilots, cabin crew, engineers and specialist airline management staff.

Air New Zealand has today had confirmation from Boeing that it can expect a delay in the delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

Air New Zealand today announced normalised earnings* before taxation and unusual items of $159 million for the six-month period ended 31 December 2007, an increase of 62 percent on the same period last year. Net profit after tax was $115 million, up 58 percent.

Air New Zealand has been judged as having the world's best passenger service in the prestigious Air Transport World magazine awards.