Business & GA

New Zealand completions start-up Altitude Aerospace Interiors enlisted the skills of traditional Maori performing artists Kapa Haka to launch itself on to the green VIP narrowbody and widebody aircraft completions market here at the show and help raise awareness of the Air New Zealand-owned company within the US and European-dominated interiors industry.

"We are here to try to offset the tyranny of distance," said Matthew Woollaston, Altitude's head of commercial, VIP aircraft. "Although our company is based in New Zealand, this should not be a barrier to us completing an aircraft for a customer.

"We have the skilled workforce in place, the infrastructure to support this venture and New Zealand is a great destination to visit." Altitude, which is the only completions company in the southern hemisphere, is celebrating its first anniversary at NBAA this year. "Over the past 12 months our focus has been on refurbishment, but we are now ready to take on green aircraft," he said.

© Billypix

Altitude will concentrate on BBJ-size aircraft upwards, including the Boeing 787-9, for which Air New Zealand is the launch customer. "We will only complete one green aircraft a year and will continue to run the refurbishments business alongside," said Woollaston.

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