Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is New Zealand’s national flag carrier based in Auckland. Its main hub is Auckland Airport while its focus cities are Wellington International Airport, Christchurch International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. Air Nelson, Eagle Airways and Mount Cook Airline are its subsidiaries.
Air New Zealand’s history goes back to the time when the merged companies of East Coast Airways and Cook Strait Airways began operations under the Union Airways of N.Z. Ltd. in 1936. Union was the country’s first major airline and sole aviation partner in New Zealand of Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL). TEAL had its first flight on 26 April 1940 carrying ten passengers from Auckland to Sydney which took seven hours and 30 minutes to cover the 1345 miles. In World War II TEAL served special flights to Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, New Caledonia and Hawaii.
The Australian and New Zealand governments bought TEAL in 1953 with 50% percent share each. TEAL was renamed Air New Zealand Limited in 1961 when the New Zealand government bought Australia’s half share with the company.
On 30 June 2004, Air New Zealand started non-stop services from Auckland to San Francisco, its first new international flight offering in eight years. In September of the same year, the airline was named Best Long Haul Airline by the Conde Nast Traveller UK Readers’ Awards.
Air New Zealand’s company slogan is “Amazing Journeys. Every Day.”
Domestic and Worldwide Destinations
Air New Zealand has a total of 48 domestic, regional and international destinations. It has a fleet size of about 99 aircraft including the subsidiaries. It flies worldwide to Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania.
Domestic destinations include Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Gisborne, Hamilton, Kerikeri, Napier, Palmerstone North, Queenstown, Wanaka, Wanganui, Wellington and Whakatane.
It flies worldwide to destinations such as Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai in People’s Republic of China; Osaka and Tokyo in Japan, London in United Kingdom (UK); Vancouver in Canada, Honolulu, Los Angeles and San Francisco in the United States of America (USA); Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Norfolk Island, Perth and Sydney in Australia; Rarotonga in Cook Islands; Nadi in Fiji; Port Vila in Vanuatu; Papeete in French Polynesia; Noumea in New Caledonia; Alofi in Niue; Apia in Samoa; and Nuku’alofa in Tonga.
Airpoints
Airpoints is the frequent flyer programme of Air New Zealand. Every time a member flies with Air New Zealand or Star Alliance airlines, Airpoints Dollars are earned and these can be redeemed at face value for air tickets. Depending on the member’s tier status (Silver, Gold or Gold Elite), benefits may include ePass, lounge privileges, upgrade privileges, priority waitlisting, priority airport standby, baggage allowance, priority check-in, priority boarding, priority baggage claim, hotel or rental car voucher, valet parking and discounted long haul. Members can also earn points when they stay in any partner hotels such as Langham, Accor, Carlton, Carlton Crest, Hilton, Intercontinental, Millennium, Copthorne, Kingsgate, Mirvac, Stamford, Starwood and Ascott. Car rental partners include Budget, Avis and Hertz. There are also credit card, cruise, travel insurance and holiday vacation affiliates.
Airpoints offers complimentary membership to those who paid for a business class ticket in an international Air New Zealand flight while for those who are not eligible, the joining fee is NZ$50.
Star Alliance
Air New Zealand is a proud member of Star Alliance, the biggest airline alliance in the world with 31 full, 3 non-voting and 4 pending members. It has annual passengers of around 499 million and has a combined fleet size of 3,359 aircraft.
Members of Air New Zealand’s frequent flyer programme can redeem awards from any Star Alliance member airlines. The alliance offers 18,000 daily flights to more than 965 destinations in 162 countries. Flying with any Star Alliance airlines can boost Air New Zealand’s Airpoints membership status. Worldwide recognition and lounge access are accorded to any member who reaches Elite status.
Star Alliance founding members are Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines System, Thai Airways International and United Airlines. Air New Zealand joined the alliance in 1999.
Koru Club
Koru Club is Air New Zealand’s network of airline lounges, both domestic and international. International lounges’ amenities include internet access, showers, regional television, business facilities as well as light snacks for business premier class passengers, paid up Koru Club members and Star Alliance Gold members.