Air NZ in the news (volume 2)
Aug 28, 2014, 7:09 pm
#931
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ GOLD (*G), KLM FB S, QF S,
Posts: 291
Aug 30, 2014, 8:00 pm
#932
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 232
Plane forced to return due to smoke
A plane carrying almost 50 passengers had to return to Auckland shortly after take-off when smoky haze was spotted in the cockpit.
The Mount Cook Airline flight to New Plymouth was abruptly aborted last Friday.
One aviation monitoring website reported "a lot of smoke" in the cabin, but Air New Zealand refuted this.
"Engineers found there was no fault with the aircraft," an airline spokeswoman said. "The air conditioning system was the source of the haze, when it was inadvertently switched to the highest setting."
Air New Zealand said 42 passengers were on the flight, NZ5231. The plane returned to Auckland 16 minutes after take-off "due to a very light haze being detected in the cabin," spokeswoman Emma Field said.
"With no evidence of fire, smoke or any other requirement for urgency, customers were disembarked as per usual procedure and re-accommodated on alternate services," Field added.
The airline said Auckland Airport contacted emergency services purely as a precautionary measure.
The plane was an ATR 72-500 turbo-prop aircraft which seats up to 68 passengers. French-Italian firm Aerei da Trasporto Regionale makes the aircraft. The airline said it had eleven such planes in its fleet.
Mount Cook Airline is a subsidiary of Air New Zealand. Its headquarters are at Christchurch Airport. Mount Cook Airline said it had 500 flights per week and carried over 1.8 million passengers annually.
The Mount Cook Airline flight to New Plymouth was abruptly aborted last Friday.
One aviation monitoring website reported "a lot of smoke" in the cabin, but Air New Zealand refuted this.
"Engineers found there was no fault with the aircraft," an airline spokeswoman said. "The air conditioning system was the source of the haze, when it was inadvertently switched to the highest setting."
Air New Zealand said 42 passengers were on the flight, NZ5231. The plane returned to Auckland 16 minutes after take-off "due to a very light haze being detected in the cabin," spokeswoman Emma Field said.
"With no evidence of fire, smoke or any other requirement for urgency, customers were disembarked as per usual procedure and re-accommodated on alternate services," Field added.
The airline said Auckland Airport contacted emergency services purely as a precautionary measure.
The plane was an ATR 72-500 turbo-prop aircraft which seats up to 68 passengers. French-Italian firm Aerei da Trasporto Regionale makes the aircraft. The airline said it had eleven such planes in its fleet.
Mount Cook Airline is a subsidiary of Air New Zealand. Its headquarters are at Christchurch Airport. Mount Cook Airline said it had 500 flights per week and carried over 1.8 million passengers annually.
Aug 31, 2014, 3:50 pm
#933
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: NZ*G, United.
Posts: 194
High Fares hitting domestic air travel - Stuff
Sep 5, 2014, 7:12 pm
#934
Ambassador: Air New Zealand
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Wellington NZ
Programs: NZ Elite, EK Gold, Qatar Gold, Amex Plat, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,425
Virgin goes one up on Air NZ
Virgin Australia is going one up on alliance partner Air New Zealand by introducing business class on its trans-Tasman and Pacific Island services from early next year.
Virgin Australia will add business class on routes to Wellington, Queenstown, Christchurch and Dunedin as well as to Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands and Vanuatu.
Sydney to Auckland will be the first to be upgraded, in March.
While Air NZ offers trans-Tasman business class on its larger wide-body jets, the airline's smaller Airbus A320 fleet is fitted with economy seats only.
Virgin Australia's similar sized Boeing 737-800 narrow-body aircraft will be refitted with two-by-two business class seating, featuring inflight wireless internet services.
Priority services would also be introduced.
Air NZ removed business class on its A320 services in 2010 due to low demand.
Since then Qantas has been the only airline offering business class between Wellington and Australia.
It also offers the service to Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown. Air NZ owns almost 26 per cent of Virgin Australia and is the airline's largest single shareholder.
Air NZ said it had no plans to add business class to the A320s.
But under the two airlines' code sharing agreement, Air New Zealand customers will be able to book business class on Virgin Australia services.
Air NZ airpoints members could also use airpoints to buy business class tickets on Virgin Australia flights, but could not use them to upgrade from economy.
Virgin Australia chief customer officer Mark Hassell said the refit, expected to be completed by April, would mark the completion of its business class rollout across its mainline network. Sydney to Auckland business class was expected to go on sale before the end of the year.
Andrew Dale, chief executive of corporate travel management company APX Travel, said the move from Virgin Australia was surprising because it created disparity with the services offered by partner Air NZ.
"I will be very interested to see what Air New Zealand does in response," Dale said.
Most companies APX worked with would not send staff on business class across the Tasman because flights were not long enough to justify the expense.
"There's not many business travel policies these days that allow business class on a flight as short as the Tasman."
In most cases business class was only offered to employees for flights over eight hours, he said.
Dale predicted that most of Virgin Australia's business class passengers would buy their tickets using frequent flyer points.
A split cabin would offer a seamless gate to gate business class service for passengers connecting to Virgin Australia's international and Australian domestic flights from New Zealand, he said.
It seemed unusual that Virgin Australia were looking to provide high-end services and move away from its image as a low cost carrier, he said.
- The Press
Virgin Australia will add business class on routes to Wellington, Queenstown, Christchurch and Dunedin as well as to Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands and Vanuatu.
Sydney to Auckland will be the first to be upgraded, in March.
While Air NZ offers trans-Tasman business class on its larger wide-body jets, the airline's smaller Airbus A320 fleet is fitted with economy seats only.
Virgin Australia's similar sized Boeing 737-800 narrow-body aircraft will be refitted with two-by-two business class seating, featuring inflight wireless internet services.
Priority services would also be introduced.
Air NZ removed business class on its A320 services in 2010 due to low demand.
Since then Qantas has been the only airline offering business class between Wellington and Australia.
It also offers the service to Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown. Air NZ owns almost 26 per cent of Virgin Australia and is the airline's largest single shareholder.
Air NZ said it had no plans to add business class to the A320s.
But under the two airlines' code sharing agreement, Air New Zealand customers will be able to book business class on Virgin Australia services.
Air NZ airpoints members could also use airpoints to buy business class tickets on Virgin Australia flights, but could not use them to upgrade from economy.
Virgin Australia chief customer officer Mark Hassell said the refit, expected to be completed by April, would mark the completion of its business class rollout across its mainline network. Sydney to Auckland business class was expected to go on sale before the end of the year.
Andrew Dale, chief executive of corporate travel management company APX Travel, said the move from Virgin Australia was surprising because it created disparity with the services offered by partner Air NZ.
"I will be very interested to see what Air New Zealand does in response," Dale said.
Most companies APX worked with would not send staff on business class across the Tasman because flights were not long enough to justify the expense.
"There's not many business travel policies these days that allow business class on a flight as short as the Tasman."
In most cases business class was only offered to employees for flights over eight hours, he said.
Dale predicted that most of Virgin Australia's business class passengers would buy their tickets using frequent flyer points.
A split cabin would offer a seamless gate to gate business class service for passengers connecting to Virgin Australia's international and Australian domestic flights from New Zealand, he said.
It seemed unusual that Virgin Australia were looking to provide high-end services and move away from its image as a low cost carrier, he said.
- The Press
Sep 5, 2014, 11:10 pm
#936
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,112
He's clearly a travel agent to avoid if he thinks VA are a LCC.
Sep 7, 2014, 7:45 pm
#938
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Auckland NZ
Programs: NZ Gold Elite, AS, AC, QF
Posts: 748
Air NZ's last jumbo flies away this week...
Air NZ's last jumbo flies away this week...
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/n...ectid=11320640
Air New Zealand's last Jumbo jet is due to make its last passenger flight from Auckland on Wednesday.
The 16-year-old Boeing 747-400 will fly to San Francisco and return two days later.
Although the airline has not announced its fate, it is unlikely to be scrapped or parked up like other jumbos have in recent years.
"Unfortunately we're unable to say more publicly at this point while the deal is being negotiated," an airline spokeswoman said.
The plane, ZK-NBV was named in honour of Christchurch when it joined the airline's fleet and according to Air New Zealand 747 fleet manager Captain Ron Woodward played a role in providing emergency transport for those wanting to leave the city immediately following the 2011 earthquake.
Read also:
• End of an era as 747's number is up
The airline's first 747 arrived to a big reception in May, 1981 and there have been 13 flown by Air New Zealand since.
It has had to keep the planes longer than planned because of delays to the arrival of the more fuel efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the first of which has now joined the airline and has been flying across the Tasman.
Woodward said the 747 had been useful in plugging gaps during the 787 delays and has been used to generate ancillary revenue from charters.
View a photo gallery of Air NZ's Jumbo jet history:
GalleryFarewell to Air NZ's 747- Queen of the Skies
"As unhappy or as sad as a lot of us will be to see the aircraft go we've got to focus on the future and the rationalisation of the fleets down to 787s, 777s and A320 will help the business. You can't get away from that and the spinoff is that there's a good environmental impact as well "
Woodward's been flying the jumbo on and off for the past nine years and will be in the cockpit for last flight.
"It's been the backbone of the fleet and earned its name Queen of the Skies. It's still a very pretty aircraft and certainly one of the most distinctive."
First commercial flight by Air New Zealand Boeing 747, ZK N2V to Sydney- June 11 1981.
First commercial flight by Air New Zealand Boeing 747, ZK N2V to Sydney- June 11 1981.
While several airlines are retaining their jumbos - notably Lufthansa which is upgrading to the latest cargo-carrying version of the plane and KLM which still has 15 in its fleet - others are disposing of their old planes in favour of lighter more efficient twin-engine aircraft.
Boeing has produced more than 1500 of the aircraft which revolutionised long haul travel during the 1970s.
The 16-year-old Boeing 747-400 will fly to San Francisco and return two days later.
Although the airline has not announced its fate, it is unlikely to be scrapped or parked up like other jumbos have in recent years.
"Unfortunately we're unable to say more publicly at this point while the deal is being negotiated," an airline spokeswoman said.
The plane, ZK-NBV was named in honour of Christchurch when it joined the airline's fleet and according to Air New Zealand 747 fleet manager Captain Ron Woodward played a role in providing emergency transport for those wanting to leave the city immediately following the 2011 earthquake.
Read also:
• End of an era as 747's number is up
The airline's first 747 arrived to a big reception in May, 1981 and there have been 13 flown by Air New Zealand since.
It has had to keep the planes longer than planned because of delays to the arrival of the more fuel efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the first of which has now joined the airline and has been flying across the Tasman.
Woodward said the 747 had been useful in plugging gaps during the 787 delays and has been used to generate ancillary revenue from charters.
View a photo gallery of Air NZ's Jumbo jet history:
GalleryFarewell to Air NZ's 747- Queen of the Skies
"As unhappy or as sad as a lot of us will be to see the aircraft go we've got to focus on the future and the rationalisation of the fleets down to 787s, 777s and A320 will help the business. You can't get away from that and the spinoff is that there's a good environmental impact as well "
Woodward's been flying the jumbo on and off for the past nine years and will be in the cockpit for last flight.
"It's been the backbone of the fleet and earned its name Queen of the Skies. It's still a very pretty aircraft and certainly one of the most distinctive."
First commercial flight by Air New Zealand Boeing 747, ZK N2V to Sydney- June 11 1981.
First commercial flight by Air New Zealand Boeing 747, ZK N2V to Sydney- June 11 1981.
While several airlines are retaining their jumbos - notably Lufthansa which is upgrading to the latest cargo-carrying version of the plane and KLM which still has 15 in its fleet - others are disposing of their old planes in favour of lighter more efficient twin-engine aircraft.
Boeing has produced more than 1500 of the aircraft which revolutionised long haul travel during the 1970s.
Sep 7, 2014, 8:19 pm
#939
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SYD
Programs: QF LTG, VASG, NZ*S, OZD, IHG SpireAMB, HHD
Posts: 1,421
Sep 7, 2014, 9:31 pm
#940
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ Elite, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 908
Sep 8, 2014, 1:35 pm
#941
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,112
They used to name all their planes, however this is something that hasn't happened for a long time now.
All of the 737-200's had Maori names for birds and the 767-200 and 747-200 all had Maori names as well. These were never carried over to newer aircraft.
The 744's were all given place names during their refit in 2004/2005.
All of the 737-200's had Maori names for birds and the 767-200 and 747-200 all had Maori names as well. These were never carried over to newer aircraft.
The 744's were all given place names during their refit in 2004/2005.
Sep 8, 2014, 4:37 pm
#942
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SYD
Programs: Too many golds, no plat: OZ*G, AC*G, NZ*G, VA Gold, QF Gold, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,350
A shame to see the 744s finally exit the fleet, I have had many happy flying experiences on them. I was a bit miffed that our SYD-AKL flights on Christmas Eve last year which were scheduled to be on the 744 got switched to a 772 at the last minute. It was to be our last hurrah on one of NZ's 744s, and the 772 just doesn't have the same character, or unique cabin spaces to compare with the nose or upstairs zones of the 744.
On the other hand, I am impatient for the last of the 763s to shuffle off to the desert somewhere - as far as I'm concerned that can't happen soon enough. Funny how the old 76s just don't inspire anything like the same affection!
On the other hand, I am impatient for the last of the 763s to shuffle off to the desert somewhere - as far as I'm concerned that can't happen soon enough. Funny how the old 76s just don't inspire anything like the same affection!
Sep 10, 2014, 6:46 pm
#943
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: NZ G, QF Bronze
Posts: 326
SMH Article re 787
Boeing staff scared to fly their own 787 Dreamliner planes
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-...#ixzz3Cxo6QxqS
Staff featured in a documentary about Boeing confessed they'd be afraid to fly on their own planes.
Titled Broken Dreams: The Boeing 787, the Al Jazeera documentary included unauthorised recordings showing some Boeing workers complaining about safety issues with the 787 Dreamliner jet, and alleged drug use on site.
Boeing slammed the documentary as "biased", telling news.com.au: "The comments by a few unidentified and obviously disgruntled individuals pursuing their own agenda and captured on a hidden camera are completely at odds with professionalism and dedication displayed by our teammates everyday building the world's most technically advanced passenger aircraft."
It said drug testing of employees was done in accordance with Boeing policy and procedures across all facilities, and in accordance with applicable laws.
An anonymous worker from the assembly lines of the factory in South Carolina contacted Al Jazeera journalists with his concerns about the Dreamliner.
"I've seen a lot of things that should not go on at an aeroplane plant," he said. "It's been eating me alive to know what I know, and have no avenue, no venue to say anything."
The worker secretly filmed conversations inside the plant, asking 15 of his colleagues if they'd fly on the jet they'd built. Ten said no.
However, 787 chief Larry Loftis said he's confident in the aircraft and processes: "The number one focus that we have at Boeing is ensuring the continued safe airworthiness of an aeroplane, the integrity of the aeroplane and the quality of the aeroplane going out."
Jetstar currently has four 787 Dreamliner in its fleet, with orders for a further 10. The airline began flying the jet on commercial routes in November last year.
In July Air New Zealand became the first airline to take ownership of the 787-9 with nine more due to be delivered.
Air New Zealand's first commercial flight of the Dreamliner was from Auckland to Sydney in August during a period of proving flights.
From tomorrow the airline will being flying it on a regular service between Auckland and Perth.
The Dreamliner's engines are about 20 per cent more fuel-efficient than the previous generation of airliners and are also quieter.
Each plane has a a list price of nearly $US250 million ($A273 million).
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-...#ixzz3CxoCwtMb
http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-...911-3f9rg.html
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-...#ixzz3Cxo6QxqS
Staff featured in a documentary about Boeing confessed they'd be afraid to fly on their own planes.
Titled Broken Dreams: The Boeing 787, the Al Jazeera documentary included unauthorised recordings showing some Boeing workers complaining about safety issues with the 787 Dreamliner jet, and alleged drug use on site.
Boeing slammed the documentary as "biased", telling news.com.au: "The comments by a few unidentified and obviously disgruntled individuals pursuing their own agenda and captured on a hidden camera are completely at odds with professionalism and dedication displayed by our teammates everyday building the world's most technically advanced passenger aircraft."
It said drug testing of employees was done in accordance with Boeing policy and procedures across all facilities, and in accordance with applicable laws.
An anonymous worker from the assembly lines of the factory in South Carolina contacted Al Jazeera journalists with his concerns about the Dreamliner.
"I've seen a lot of things that should not go on at an aeroplane plant," he said. "It's been eating me alive to know what I know, and have no avenue, no venue to say anything."
The worker secretly filmed conversations inside the plant, asking 15 of his colleagues if they'd fly on the jet they'd built. Ten said no.
However, 787 chief Larry Loftis said he's confident in the aircraft and processes: "The number one focus that we have at Boeing is ensuring the continued safe airworthiness of an aeroplane, the integrity of the aeroplane and the quality of the aeroplane going out."
Jetstar currently has four 787 Dreamliner in its fleet, with orders for a further 10. The airline began flying the jet on commercial routes in November last year.
In July Air New Zealand became the first airline to take ownership of the 787-9 with nine more due to be delivered.
Air New Zealand's first commercial flight of the Dreamliner was from Auckland to Sydney in August during a period of proving flights.
From tomorrow the airline will being flying it on a regular service between Auckland and Perth.
The Dreamliner's engines are about 20 per cent more fuel-efficient than the previous generation of airliners and are also quieter.
Each plane has a a list price of nearly $US250 million ($A273 million).
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-...#ixzz3CxoCwtMb
http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-...911-3f9rg.html
Sep 11, 2014, 7:33 pm
#944
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SYD
Programs: QF LTG, VASG, NZ*S, OZD, IHG SpireAMB, HHD
Posts: 1,421
Queen of the Skies takes her last Air NZ flight
Surely an FTer?
"The final Air New Zealand jumbo flight departed last night from San Francisco where airport staff served cupcakes to departing passengers, one of whom reportedly flew from Britain especially to make the last journey on the plane, registered ZK-NBV."
Sep 11, 2014, 9:43 pm
#945
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: AKL
Programs: NZ Silver
Posts: 1,817