Santa's Sleigh has nothing on Air New Zealand Cargo: 6,000 tonnes of festive freight take flight
This festive season, Air New Zealand Cargo expects to carry just under 6,000 tonnes of freight out of New Zealand, across December and January. From cherries bound for Asia's New Year celebrations to salmon destined for sashimi in Tokyo, and capsicums adding colour to Christmas feasts everywhere.
Air New Zealand General Manager of Cargo, Anne Dunne, says the team takes pride in spreading a little Kiwi cheer around the globe.
"This time of year is all about sharing joy and connection, and we're proud to play a part in that, delivering the very best of New Zealand to families and celebrations around the world," says Dunne.
"New Zealand has an incredible reputation for premium fresh produce, and it's a privilege to connect our exporters with markets around the world."
The top three export items soaring sky-high this festive season are capsicums, with around 700 tonnes taking flight, followed by cherries at approximately 615 tonnes, and salmon close behind at 470 tonnes, a trio of Kiwi favourites bringing a taste of summer to tables around the world.
While leaving things to the last minute at Christmas is rarely a good idea, lobster shipments are a notable exception. These time-critical deliveries are meticulously planned to arrive fresh for festive banquets and New Year celebrations across China.
Earlier in the season, premium cuts of New Zealand beef head to the United States, making their way onto Christmas tables across the Pacific. Together, these exports showcase the precision and timing behind Air New Zealand Cargo's operations, ensuring even the most perishable products reach their destination in perfect condition.
Among the many highlights of the year for the Cargo team, was one particularly adorable flight. Four little blue penguins took to the skies from Auckland to Christchurch, enroute to their new home at the West Coast Wildlife Centre in Franz Josef.
The rescued birds, unable to return to the wild due to injury or illness, were given a second chance as ambassadors for the new West Coast Penguin Encounter which opened in November.
"Whether it's cherries for good luck, salmon for a celebration, or a few feathered friends hitching a ride to a new home, we're proud to deliver a little Kiwi magic to the world," says Dunne.
This Christmas, Air New Zealand Cargo proves once again that when it comes to festive freight, Santa's got competition in the skies.
ENDS
Issued by Air New Zealand Communications
Email: media@airnz.co.nz │ Phone: +64 21 747 320
About Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand's story started in 1940, first taking to the skies between Auckland and Sydney on a flying boat - a Short S30. Known for its warm Kiwi hospitality, today, the airline has operating aircraft ranging from Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus A320s to ATRs and Q300s, offering customers comfort in the latest most efficient jets and turboprops. It's a modern fuel-efficient fleet with an average age of 9.9 years. Air New Zealand's global network of passenger and cargo services centres around New Zealand. In 2024, the airline flew more than 16 million passengers. Air New Zealand was named 2025 World's Safest Airline by the Australian rating service AirlineRatings.com, highlighting the airline's laser-focus on safety.
Air New Zealand has a well-connected domestic business, connecting customers and cargo to 20 different regions around New Zealand. Internationally, the airline has direct flights to major cities across Australia, the Pacific Islands, Asia and North America, and through its strong relationships with alliance partners, offers customers more choice and convenience to connect further afield to hundreds of destinations. Air New Zealand has a particular focus on sustainability and its Sustainability Framework helps guide the airline's efforts in tackling some of New Zealand's and the world's most complex challenges. Airpoints, Air New Zealand's loyalty programme, is seen as the most valuable loyalty programme in New Zealand with more than 4 million members. It allows members to earn Airpoints Dollars™ and Status Points for VIP benefits in the air and on the ground. Air New Zealand aircraft are proudly identified by its distinct tail livery of the Mangōpare, the Māori symbol of the hammerhead shark which represents strength, tenacity, and resilience.
About Star Alliance
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, based on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition and seamless service. Since inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a focus on improving customer experience across the Alliance journey.
The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United.
Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 16,000 daily flights to almost 1,200 airports in 186 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partners Juneyao Airlines and THAI Smile Airways.
For more information about Air New Zealand visit www.airnewzealand.com and for more information about Star Alliance visit www.staralliance.com