Air New Zealand will welcome four new aircraft to its regional and short-haul international fleet in late 2024.
The addition of two new 68-seat ATR72-600 turboprop aircraft will boost capacity by more than 5,700 seats per week and fly customers to regional destinations like Tauranga and Nelson.
The two new 214-seat Airbus A321neo aircraft will be configured for international flying and will serve Tasman and Pacific Island routes. They'll add an additional 9,000 seats per week to the network, ensuring the airline has more capacity across the Tasman than any other airline.
"Flying continues to be in high demand, both here and around the world and it means prices have been higher than usual,” said Greg Foran, Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer.
Foran believes the additional aircraft are a step towards meeting the demand for travel options at cheaper prices.
"We know it's important to offer a range of fares that are accessible to all New Zealanders. Investing in new aircraft means more seats available at more times and at reasonable prices.”
The A321neo aircraft are the most fuel-efficient narrowbody aircraft currently available. The ATR72-600 will be delivered with the most recent variant of the engine which has the potential to provide a three percent fuel burn improvement compared with the previous generation.
The additional four aircraft mean the airline has a total of 16 aircraft joining the fleet including eight Boeing 787 Dreamliners, six Airbus A321, and two ATR72-600, all scheduled for delivery between 2024 - 2028.
The airline will be soon announcing further details on a leased Boeing 777-300ER, which will add 3,000 more seats per week to its international network. This would bring the total 777-300 fleet to eight.
