Air New Zealand Purchases More Fuel Efficient Boeing Jets

New Zealand based Air New Zealand recently announced in a press release that they have purchased four new aircraft. The purchase will allow Air New Zealand to replace older aircraft currently in the fleet. The purchase agreement is for 4 Boeing 777-300ER's as well as the options to 3 more that will allow for additional expansion, if so desired by the airline. The new Boeing 777-300ER will allow Air New Zealand to accommodate up to 365 passengers, and operate a distance of nearly 8,000 nautical miles. The four new aircraft are worth approximately 1.1 billion US dollars.

Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe had the following to say at a recent press conference, "These new -300ERs will help us build on the success we've had with our existing 777s," and "There's no doubting the 777's passenger appeal, and its fuel efficiency is a very good fit with our very strong commitment to the environment." One of the main points driven home by the airline is the fact that the new aircraft is more fuel efficient. This leads to less consumption of fuel, and thus fewer emissions, keeping the pristine environment of New Zealand in its present shape. Because the 777-300ER is replacing the 747-400ER, fuel emissions will drop, due to halving of number of engines running at all times on the aircraft.

About Air New Zealand: Air New Zealand has been flying the skies for over six decades. Originally called TEAL, Tasman Empire Airways Limited, the airline flew from New Zealand to Australia. Over the years, the airline has expanded to fly to Australia, Europe, Asia, and North America with a fleet of over 90 aircraft. Today, Air New Zealand is the flag carrier of New Zealand. The airline is a part of the Star Alliance, allowing members of any airline to share frequent flier miles between member airlines. Today, the airline serves nearly 50 destinations, with over 5,000 employees. The airline operates a majority of its flights from its hub in Auckland, New Zealand.

About the Boeing 777-300ER: The Boeing 777-300ER is the largest aircraft of the 777 family of wide-bodied aircraft. The aircraft is nearly 245 feet long and 212 feet wide. Able to fly over 8,000 nautical miles allows the aircraft to fly from Auckland to nearly anywhere in the populated world. The 777-300ER can carry over 400,000 pounds of fuel and cargo, allowing for airlines to operate very profitable routes with ample room for cargo in the underside of the aircraft. Since the aircraft has only two engines, the ability to operate on a single engine is critical. Tests have shown the aircraft can fly over six hours on a single engine. The 777 is a very safe aircraft, benefiting from being the first aircraft designed entirely on computer systems.