Air New Zealand has posted earnings before taxation for the 2018 financial year of NZ$540 million, an increase from the prior year result of NZ$527 million, representing the second highest profit in the airline’s history. Net profit after taxation grew 2.1% to NZ$390 million.
To deliver greater schedule reliability for customers going forward, Air New Zealand will be leasing three widebody aircraft, two Boeing 777-200s and one Boeing 777-300, as well as making adjustments to its schedule as the airline continues to work through the maintenance requirements associated with the global Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine issues.
“The adjustments to our schedule will essentially free up two widebody aircraft enabling us to provide greater schedule certainty for customers. This will include adjusting weekly frequency on our Buenos Aires and Taipei services, as well as seeking to retime our flights to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. We are confident that these proactive steps will result in better reliability for our customers,” said Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon.