AIR
05/11/2015 14:15
GENERAL
PRICE SENSITIVE
REL: 1415 HRS Air New Zealand Limited (NS)
GENERAL: AIR: Air NZ further invests in regional growth with ATR purchase
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon, joined by Prime
Minister John Key, has today announced the airline will purchase 15 new
ATR72-600 aircraft to operate its regional services.
Four of the new aircraft will allow for further growth on regional Air New
Zealand routes while 11 will replace the airline's ATR72-500 fleet.
At list prices the 15 new aircraft are collectively valued at $US375 million.
In 2012 the airline announced it would add to its ATR fleet with an
investment in 14 ATR72-600 aircraft - seven of these aircraft have since been
delivered with the remaining seven due to join the fleet by mid-2016.
The additional 15 new aircraft will begin arriving from late 2016.
Christopher Luxon says the airline is proud of its commitment to operating
both a world-leading turboprop fleet and a comprehensive regional network.
"The extra four 68 seat ATR72-600 that we are adding to our fleet will enable
us to operate up to an additional 600,000 seats into the New Zealand regional
market annually. This latest investment will further allow us to maintain
our low fare price and high frequency leadership," says Mr Luxon.
"Once these new aircraft arrive we will operate a fleet of 29 ATR aircraft,
the third largest ATR fleet in the world which is testament to the breadth
and depth of our regional network."
In addition to ATR aircraft Air New Zealand also currently operates ten
19-seat Beech 1900D and 23 50-seat Bombardier Q300 aircraft types.
End CA:00272917 For:AIR Type:GENERAL Time:2015-11-05 14:15:44
