New Zealand's flagship carrier operates services to over 25 domestic, half a dozen Australian and over a dozen Pacific Island destinations in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Norfolk Island, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. International services are flown to Honolulu, London, Los Angeles, Osaka, Shanghai, Tokyo and Vancouver. Domestic services link Auckland with four major cities and connect with 'Air New Zealand link' services to more than 20 others, as operated by Mount Cook Airlines, Air Nelson and Eagle Airways. The carrier's own services are complemented by codeshare agreements with other Star Alliance airlines. Air New Zealand is a member of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) regional trade group.
Founded by the governments of New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom as Tasman Empire Airways Ltd (TEAL). Operations were launched in April 1940, with Shorts flying boat services across the Tasman Sea to Australia and the South Pacific Islands.
Tasman Empire Airways became wholly owned by the New Zealand government in 1961, and was rebranded as Air New Zealand (ANZ) on 1 April 1965. The first jets, Douglas DC8-50s, were ordered shortly thereafter. In 1978 ANZ and NAC merged under the Air New Zealand brand. ANZ was privatised in 1989, with shares listed on the New Zealand Stock exchange from October 1989. In April 1996 the company announced it had agreed to purchase TNT’s holding in Ansett Australia for AU $475 million (US $397 million). In March 1997 an alliance was launched with United Airlines on routes between New Zealand, Australia and the USA. Services to Korea were temporarily suspended on 31 December 1997, as a result of the Asian economic crisis. ANZ and Ansett Australia became full members of the Star Alliance in March 1999 and in May 1999, Brierley Investments increased their shareholding in ANZ to 47 per cent. In April 2000, Singapore Airlines (SIA) purchase a 16.7 per cent stake in ANZ from Brierley, bringing their stake in the carrier to 25 per cent..In June 2000, Ansett Australia became a wholly-owned subsidiary of ANZ.
During 2001, and following the heavy losses and subsequent collapse of its Ansett subsidiary, combined with ANZ's poor financial performance, the New Zealand government announced a NZ $ 885 million rescue package, taking an 83 per cent shareholding in ANZ.. After the recapitalisation, the SIA'S stake had been diluted to 6.3 per cent, and was disposed of in October 2004. Alliance talks during 2002-2004 and the planned Tasman Networks Agreement with Qantas were finally abandoned after the competition authorities in both countries refused to allow it. Qantas retained its 4.2 per cent in ANZ until 27 June 2007, when it was sold for AU $107 million (US $89.6 million).
Fleet
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