Air New Zealand is flying high after collecting several industry awards these past few weeks, including the world’s safest airline, best airline in the South Pacific, and innovation of the year, and Australia’s most trusted airline (full details below).

The Star Alliance carrier, which operates a network of domestic and international flights from its main hub at Auckland Airport (AKL), and secondary hubs at Wellington (WLG) and Christchurch (CHC), has a modest fleet of Airbus narrowbody, Boeing widebody, and ATR / Bombardier turboprop aircraft, which connect most corners of New Zealand to the world.

More Awards For The Trophy Cabinet

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The airline has been acknowledged not only for its innovative designs but also for its continued commitment to sustainability. Air NZ was named by the World Travel Awards 2025 as Oceania’s leading airline, beating other carriers such as Fiji Airways and Qantas. The full list of awards is below:

These awards acknowledge the immense amount of work the team at Air New Zealand has put in over the last 12 months, which cements its unwavering commitment to being the best carrier in the region. This was acknowledged by Jeremy O’Brien, Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Digital Officer:

“It’s fantastic to see Air New Zealand recognised alongside some of the biggest and best carriers in the world. It’s a reflection of New Zealand and where we come from, as well as our people on the ground and in the air who work tirelessly to deliver an experience that feels genuinely Kiwi.”

A Cabin Crew Strike Is Looming

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While Air New Zealand celebrates the awards noted above, unionized cabin crew members are planning to strike on December 8. This comes as E tū members voted to strike after months of failed negotiations. The strike is expected to hamper all corners of the airline’s network, including international, domestic, and regional operations.

1,250 crew are expected to strike, which is a combined three separate strikes across three different collective agreements and crew that operate across the airline’s network. The airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Nikhil Ravishankar, who only recently took on the new CEO role after Greg Foran announced stepping down, noted that the airline will be doing as much as it can to limit disruption for passengers. This will include rebooking for alternative travel days, meal and refreshment vouchers, and, in extreme cases, accommodation.

As noted by New Zealand news outlet Stuff.co.nz, anonymous crew members said the carrier has been prioritizing efficiency over well-being and is expecting crew members to work more hours than usual, which has led to low morale throughout the airline’s cabin crew workforce.

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Non-Stop To Rarotonga

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In other news for the airline, Air New Zealand recently announced a new nonstop service between Christchurch and the Cook Islands. The flights to Rarotonga International Airport (RAR) will operate three times weekly from May to October 2026. This will be the airline’s sole South Pacific service from the South Island.

The flights will depart from Christchurch on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 3:40 pm, with a return flight leaving from Rarotonga on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 11:30 pm (keeping in mind that the Cook Islands is one day behind New Zealand).

These flights will complement the carrier’s new seasonal route between Christchurch and Adelaide, which will operate across the Southern Hemisphere summer season, while also operating its year-round network of international flights from CHC to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast.