Updates

Attributable to an Air New Zealand spokesperson:

Air New Zealand is pleased to have submitted an application to expand our codeshare partnership with Virgin Australia, an important step in strengthening our trans-Tasman network and providing customers with more choice and better connections between New Zealand and Australia.

If approved, Virgin Australia would become Air New Zealand's principal airline partner for domestic flights and connections within Australia, making it easier for customers to travel from New Zealand to destinations across Virgin Australia's extensive Australian domestic network on a single itinerary.

Virgin Australia operates frequent flights to a wide range of Australian destinations, covering the places Air New Zealand customers travel to most. Around 90% of Air New Zealand customers connecting to domestic flights within Australia travel to destinations served by Virgin Australia.

We're excited about the opportunity to deepen our partnership with Virgin Australia and deliver more seamless connections, greater travel choice and additional loyalty benefits for customers on both sides of the Tasman.

The following joint statement can be attributed to spokespersons from Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia:

Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia have applied to the New Zealand Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for authorisation to expand the airlines' existing commercial partnership.

If authorised, the expanded partnership is expected to provide customers of both airlines with additional loyalty benefits and seamless connectivity to a broader range of destinations.

• Velocity members would gain the ability to earn and redeem Velocity Frequent Flyer Points on Air New Zealand's entire network, gaining access to Velocity Reward Seats on services to destinations such as the Pacific Islands, Tokyo, Hawaii, Houston and New York, subject to availability;

• Air New Zealand Koru members would gain the ability to earn and redeem Airpoints, and earn Status Points on Virgin Australia's Domestic and Short Haul International flights;
• Eligible members of Velocity and Air New Zealand's Koru loyalty programme would have access to a range of additional reciprocal benefits when booking with, and flying on Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand services including, depending on tier status, lounge access, extra baggage allowance, priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage;
• Virgin Australia customers would gain access to expanded codeshare services beyond the trans-Tasman on all Air New Zealand operated services to 20 domestic New Zealand destinations;
• Air New Zealand customers and members of its Koru loyalty program would be able to travel on a single itinerary to 30 destinations across Virgin Australia's extensive domestic network, such as the Whitsundays, Byron Bay and Broome.

Note - The existing partnership does not currently extend reciprocal booking access or loyalty benefits to Air New Zealand customers on Virgin Australia-operated services.

Update on Wednesday 30 September 2026

Comment in response to the TAIC report into Air New Zealand Flight NZ5366 from Christchurch to Wellington that experienced an engine fire and emergency evacuation upon landing on September 1, 2024.

Please attribute to Air New Zealand Chief Safety and Risk Officer Nathan McGraw

"Safety underpins everything we do at Air New Zealand, and we're proud to be recognised as one of the world's safest airlines. Serious incidents like this are rare, but when they do happen, it's important they are thoroughly investigated and we learn from them. We're grateful to our crew who landed the aircraft safely and evacuated our passengers. TAIC found their actions ensured the safe landing and evacuation of everyone onboard.

"TAIC found the fire was caused by fatigue in a turbine blade, with no evidence of an Air New Zealand maintenance or operating issue contributing to the failure. The PW100 engine series has accumulated more than 50 million flying hours globally, and TAIC could not identify another similar turbine-blade failure involving this engine type. The report also identifies important lessons from the evacuation, which took longer than we would want. Real-world evacuations involve uncertainty, time pressure and different passenger responses, and there are valuable lessons from this event. We accept the findings and have already made changes to strengthen our training, procedures, and passenger safety information."

Update on Thursday 1 October 2026

Comment in response to the TAIC Report: Air NZ Q300 below safe altitude on approach to Timaru in 2023.

Please attribute to Air New Zealand Chief Safety and Risk Officer Nathan McGraw

"Safety and a strong safety culture are fundamental to Air New Zealand. When something doesn't go as it should, our job is to understand why and learn from it. 

"We began our own investigation immediately in June 2023 and strengthened our procedures, training, monitoring and safety culture, well before the TAIC inquiry was completed. TAIC has recognised that work, and the final report makes one recommendation to Air New Zealand, which we've accepted and progressed.

"Independent investigations, regular audits, and being open about what we can do better are all essential parts of a safe aviation system. We're very confident in the training, systems and safety culture we have in place today."