Between 1994 and 1996, a small New Zealand airline Kiwi Travel International Airlines established by Ewan Wilson turned Australian-New Zealand air travel on its head. Initially operating from secondary NZ airports Hamilton and Dunedin, the carrier expanded to Christchurch. Offering a “Cola and Peanuts” fare, they introduced fares that significantly undercut Air New Zealand and Qantas, the established trans-Tasman carriers. Air New Zealand countered by establishing its own low cost subsidiary Freedom Air in December, 1995 which also operated from secondary airports. Fares plunged so low that passengers were picking up flights for $US120 round trip for the 2200 km (1378 mile) international…
Air New Zealand
Tag Archives for Air New Zealand.
Staying comfy in Long haul Economy
One of the disadvantages of being based in Australia is that my long distance flights are all very long. And many of my flights have been done in the back of the plane! the reality is that this is where most passengers end up. The hallowed grail of Business or First can be elusive despite our best prayers, wishes and attempts! Here are 12 tips: Do some research- some airlines do long haul better than others. Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Finnair, Lan, Malaysia, Qatar, Qantas, Turkish and Singapore keep me much happier than Air Canada, Air France, American, Delta, Etihad and…
My 300th time thru Sydney
This week I celebrate another geeky milestone! I have now flown into or out of SYD Sydney’s (Kingsford Smith) Airport 300 times! Of the 212 airports I have travelled through in my life, this Australian airport is my second most visited: 1 MEL Melbourne 328 15.7 % 4.2 2 SYD Sydney 300 14.3 % 2.9 3 LAX Los Angeles 99 4.7 % 1.7 4 ADL Adelaide 78 3.7 % 4.4 5 AKL Auckland 78 3.7 % 3.2 Since my first flight into Sydney on 3rd July 1971 on a Pan Am 747, I have now travelled to…
Air NZ’s newest Hobbit safety video
The next part of the Hobbit movie series: The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies will be released in December. Again, filmed largely in New Zealand. Air New Zealand is gearing up again with the release of their latest safety video: The Most Epic Safety Video Ever Made. And I am inclined to agree. At 4 mins 38 secs, it is a long safety video but it certainly kept my attention! I get such a kick out of these. I love watching them. I wonder if they add to safety or distract from it? Did…
Air New Zealand’s new 787-9 takes flight
Wishing desperately I was in Seattle this week when Air New Zealand’s first Boeing 787-9 took off from Paine Field airport north of Seattle for a three hour and ten minute flight. It reached an altitude of 11,800 metres (39,000 feet) and an airspeed of 360 knots during its B1 test flight during which the two pilots throughly checked all systems to ensure performance while simultaneously checking full cabin functionality of every aspect of the cabin is tested in-flight. Air New Zealand is the launch customer for the Boeing 787-9 and this aircraft (tail registration ZK-NZE) is the first of…
Southwest Airlines Attendant grabs safety attention
Southwest Airlines does it again! The airline is renowned for entertaining passengers with their staff commentary, attention and care. They now have a few examples of creative ways of keeping passenger attention during safety demonstration. This one “brings the house down” with her patter! The big question for me is will the passengers remember what she said if they need the instructions in an emergency? Related Posts Air NZ Bears it Fly Hobbits Fly Back to the 80s with Air NZ’s newest safety video Funny Safety Briefings Five Fun Safety Briefings …
Stunning landing in Queenstown
This is a simply beautiful landing into Queenstown, New Zealand. This town located on the west of the country’s South Island is built around Lake Wakatipu. It is surrounded by incredible mountains.I have been lucky enough to get to Queenstown several times. Queenstown Airport (IATA: ZQN) is eight kilometres (five miles) from the centre of town. It is the country’s fourth busiest airport, handling around a million scheduled passengers per year. The Airport is served by Air New Zealand, Mt Cook Airline, Pacific Blue, Jetstar and Qantas. It has a lovely terminal building and a stunning vista! I have flown to…
Toomey Quits & Jet Airways expands
Anyone know why Jet Airways chief executive officer Gary Toomey announced his immediate departure from the airline last week after four months? Jet Airways announced on January 16; “Gary Kenneth Toomey, chief executive of the company has resigned with immediate effect…Ravishankar Gopalakrishnan, the chief financial officer of the airline, will officiate as the “acting chief executive officer” till the board appoints a new chief“. Mr Toomey said: “I have enjoyed my time at Jet Airways working with the Chairman, the management team and the wonderful staff. I am confident that the Company will be successful in…
World’s best airlines -skytrax 2013
The 2013 Skytrax World Airline Awards were announced at the Paris Air Show on the 18th June 2013. The awards are based on a passenger satisfaction survey completed on 200 airlines by travellers from over 160 countries. They review over 40 plus areas from check-in to cabin cleanliness to food to service. The airline award winners are becoming fairly predictable. The names Air New Zealand, Air Asia, Qatar, Emirates, Cathay Pacific and Singapore sit in the top categories year on year. It makes me wonder if the airlines that are not in the Top 20…
Air NZ Bears it
I love Air New Zealand’s safety messages. They have to be the best in the industry. Previously, the airline featured a safety briefing where their staff stripped off bare for the cameras. It got lots of attention. Then came Richard Simmons and next Hobbits. Now the carrier have enlisted Man vs Wild Bear Grylls in a new comedy feature which includes an extinct moa and a reappearance from one of the flight attendants who have appeared in most of the recent safety ads. I must admit some nervousness that Bear showed no reluctance in trying to hunt and eat an extinct bird.…
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