Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland International) will boost its short-haul fleet with an additional two ATR72-600s (plus two options) and two A321-200NX. The carrier confirmed the new orders while announcing its FY22/23 financial results in Auckland on August 24, 2023,
The addition of the two owned 68-passenger ATR - Avions de Transport Régional turboprops will make Air New Zealand the fourth largest ATR operator worldwide when they deliver over the 2024/25 Southern Hemisphere summer. Air New Zealand already operates 29 of the type, mainly former Mount Cook Airline (Christchurch) stock. Air New Zealand's General Manager of Fleet Strategy and Delivery, Baden Smith, said the ATR72-600 was an important part of the carrier's domestic network, with the type well suited to the country's short-range, highly connected network.
The two 214-passenger A321neo will arrive from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) on 12-year leases and operate on trans-Tasman and short-haul Pacific routes. Air New Zealand already flies ten of the type, plus six A321-200Ns. Air New Zealand Chief Financial Officer Richard Thomson told an analyst's briefing that the extra A321neo will provide an important complement and enable better connectivity for these markets following the carrier retiring eight B777-200ERs during the pandemic.
Also on August 24, Air New Zealand declared a statutory profit before tax of NZD574 million New Zealand dollars (USD324 million) in the 12 months to June 30, 2023, the second highest profit in the airline's history and a sharp turnaround from the NZD810 million (USD483 million) loss recorded in the previous fiscal year. The carrier's current liquidity is NZD2.6 billion (USD1.55 billion). Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran describes the present trading environment "as constructive as the aviation industry has ever seen."
The new orders take the aircraft due at Air New Zealand to 16 by the end of 2028. The outstanding orders now include the two ATR72-200s, six A321-200NX, two B787-9s, and six B787-10. The carrier says its anticipated capital expenditure on aircraft through FY28 is NZD3.6 billion (USD2.15 billion), but it has yet to commit to any expenditure for new aircraft beyond that date.
Air New Zealand also confirms that discussions are underway to lease an additional B777-300ER and that it will end its existing wet lease arrangement (costing NZD30 million (USD17.9 million) in FY22/23) with Wamos Air (EB, Madrid Barajas) on October 28. Wamos has been operating an A330-200 on the Auckland - Perth International city pair on behalf of Air New Zealand. However, that airline will return to the route daily using a B787-9 from October 29.
