Final Flight

The Kiwi carrier has been progressively replacing its 767s with more modern Boeing 787-9s, which feature the airline’s latest cabin products and offer lower operating costs and improved fuel efficiency while carrying more passengers.

Further, the 767’s retirement gives Air New Zealand a simplified fleet structure comprising three jet aircraft types – narrowbody Airbus A320s and widebody 787-9s and 777-200ER/300ERs. Air New Zealand retired the 747-400 from service in September 2014.

“The Boeing 767 aircraft has been a stalwart at Air New Zealand for more than 30 years now but moving to operate the modern 787-9 Dreamliners on our long-haul routes will allow us to be more efficient and have a consistent widebody fleet which will deliver benefits to both the business and customers,” Air New Zealand chief operations, integrity and standards officer Captain David Morgan said in a statement.

The transition from the 767-300ER to 787-9 would result in a three per cent increase in capacity on Air New Zealand’s trans-Tasman and Pacific Island network, Captain Morgan said.

Air New Zealand’s 787-9s are configured with 302 seats across 18 in business, 21 in premium economy and 263 in economy. The airline will also have three 787-9s in a more premium-heavy configuration featuring 27 business, 33 premium economy and 215 economy seats for a total of 275.

By contrast, the 767-300ERs had 230 seats (24 in business and 206 in economy).

The airline has nine 787-9s in its fleet, with a further four due for delivery by the end of 2018.

“The 767 has reached the end of its time,” Air New Zealand Boeing 767 senior fleet manager Captain Greg Liddy said.

“After 32 years in our operation it has been replaced by the 787s which again achieve even better fuel savings by having even greater range and even greater capability to extend to those other places that we need to go. ” While ZK-NCI and NCG have now been withdrawn from the Air New Zealand fleet, they will continue to fly having been sold to a new operator and slated for conversion to freighters.

Air New Zealand took delivery of its first 767 (767-219ER ZK-NBA Aotearoa) in September 1985 and would go on to fly both the -200 and -300 variants of the type. The final active 767-300ER, ZK‑NCI joined the fleet in November 1994, meaning it has had a near 23 years with the New Zealand flag carrier.

“The 767 was introduced in September of 1985, it was looked at as a contender to effectively replace our older DC-8s,” said Captain Liddy.

“It’s winning aspect has been its versatility. It would be fair to say it has fl

own or opened up all of Air New Zealand’s routes over time, aside from London. ” The 767 also carried a number of luminaries in its three-decade plus career.

“I can think of at least three engagements on board the aircraft in my time,” said Captain Liddy.

“We have carried everybody from the Pope in the early days through to the America’s Cup team, a number of very, very important people including the Rolling Stones just three years ago. ” Qantas, meanwhile, farewelled the 767 in December 2014 after a 29-year career operating 927,000 flights that carried nearly 168 million passengers. The last flight was on December 27.

Air New Zealand’s retirement of the 767 leaves Qantas Freight (with a single 767-300F freighter) and Air Niugini (two 767-300ERs) as the last operators of the type in the near region.

“It led the field in technology in the day. It hasn’t changed too much since then but the rest of the world has changed and moved on,” Captain Liddy reflected.

“I think pilots and engineers and crew have all got some emotional attachment to aircraft and especially this aircraft. ”