Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland International) says it will continue to experience aircraft availability problems stemming from global engine maintenance delays until early 2026. The rolling problem has seen up to six Airbus neo aircraft and up to four B787-9s out of service across the latter half of 2024.
During a November 25 investors' day presentation, Air New Zealand said it expected to have a similar number of aircraft out of service across most of 2025.
"This represents over 16% of Air New Zealand's entire jet fleet," the carrier said in a statement released on the same day. "However, the airline expects to explore options to improve capacity, including aircraft leases."
The ch-aviation fleets module indicates that six of Air New Zealand's twelve A321-200NX aircraft are out of service, namely ZK-NNB (msn 8542), ZK-NNC (msn 8573), ZK-OYA (msn 10963), ZK-OYC (msn 11096), ZK-OYD (msn 11521), and ZK-OYE (msn 11773). In addition, four of the airline's ten B787-9s are out of service, including ZK-NZG (msn 37963), ZK-NZH (msn 37964), ZK-NZK (msn 43217), and ZK-NZR (msn 65088).
Air New Zealand says the lack of aircraft has proven to be a drag on its earnings. It currently forecasts earnings before taxation for the six months to December 31, 2024, to be in the range of NZD120-160 million New Zealand dollars (USD70-94 million). This includes NZD30 million (USD17.6 million) in compensation from engine manufacturers relating to prior periods and part of a broader compensation package and around NZD20 million (USD11.7 million) from the sale and leaseback of four A320-200s.
