Air NZ “most successful airline in the world”: CEO
Air New Zealand’s CEO, Christopher Luxon, has put it out there and claimed his airline is the best in the world, and told Travel Weekly recently all the reasons the carrier is killing it globally.
“We’ve done things very differently from other airlines over the past 15 years,” Luxon told TW at the annual TRENZ exhibition in Auckland, which just announced it will be heading to Dunedin in 2018.
“We’ve worked really hard to put the customer at the heart of everything that we do and we take that really seriously, and we’ve worked really hard to be successful commercially and make sure that what we do works well for us.
“But importantly, we’re also the number one that place that Kiwis want to work and you wouldn’t say that of many airlines in countries around the world; that the national carrier is the place people are desperate to work.
Asked if he’s concerned about competitors, Luxon told Travel Weekly he’s really not.
“We’ve been competitive for a long time so we’re used to being a small airline in a global sense,” Luxon said.
“But we are really good through the lenses by which we look at our business to know that we can compete with anyone in the world.
“We compete with the big, state-funded Chinese carriers, we compete with Qantas Group that’s four times bigger than Air New Zealand, we compete with American carriers coming in, Middle Eastern carriers coming in.
“So we don’t make excuses – we want to compete in the marketplace and we’ve got awesome people and great innovation that’s enabled us to do incredibly well.
“By any stretch of the imagination, this probably has to be the most successful airline in the world in terms of our relative commercial performance, our customer satisfaction scores and our cultural scores.”
Talking about carbon emissions, Luxon agreed that carbon offsetting is the best strategy for airlines to follow.
“We want to be carbon neutral from 2020, and so for that to happen we’ve been working really hard on modernising our fleet,” Luxon told TW.
“We have a fleet age of about seven years, with an average age of six years, which means it’s a modern, fuel-efficient, technologically advanced fleet. And it’s the best aircraft we can buy today.
“All of those new aircraft we’re buying are being 20-24 per cent more fuel efficient.
“We then have moved all of our company car fleet to electric vehicles, we’re increasingly moving more of our ground handling equipment at airports to electric, and we’re looking for all those options so we can reduce the carbon in many parts of our business.
“We’ve also looked at alternative buyer fuels and that’s really tricky because there’s nowhere in the world that’s been able to scale up with bio-fuels in a meaningful way.
“But the reality is even with all of those efforts we’re still left in a place where we create greenhouse gas emissions.
“We don’t just want to buy cheap carbon credits in Eastern Europe, we actually want to spend money in the economy and make sure that it strengthens New Zealand,” he added.
Luxon stressed this comes in the form of taking degraded land that’s owned by Maori tribes or local city councils and replanting them with native forests or manuka honey, or regenerating them with economic benefits like an eco-zipline or eradicating pests.
“Those are the conversations we’re in with the government and that’s why I came out in favour of the 100 per cent ETS scheme for domestic New Zealand because I think that’s just the right thing to do,” Luxon said.
And while he was coy about where the airline wants to go next, Luxon did tell Travel Weekly the carrier is always looking to grow.
“Every quarter we look at all the potential markets that we see across the world, and we review them every quarter, and ask how they’re changing and how they’re evolving. And that’s what forms the basis of us then deciding to go somewhere,” Luxon said.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
-
Latest comments
Latest News
Australia fails to make top 10 destination list for American travellers
Australia's top cities have failed to make the grade with American travellers this northern summer, with no local city in the top.
APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures
APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]
ANZAC Battlefield travel on the 2025 bucketlist
As Anzac Day dawns, agents prepare for a surge in bookings for the 110th anniversary of the Anzac Cove landings.
Former Channel 9 Getaway host and founder of TRIBE Jules Lund to speak at Travel DAZE
From blond-tipped travel reporter to Travel DAZE speaker, Jules Lund cuts through the BS.
HX’s Roald Amundsen finds aliens in the Antarctic
Forget whales, HX's MS Roald Amundsen captures aliens in the Antarctic - and they're not pretty.
Mayhem in France as 70% of flights face cancellation
I mean it wouldn't be France if there wasn't at least one strike.
Etihad Airways launches double-decker service with world’s only in-air three-room suite
We imagine falling asleep in the three-room suite is superior to falling asleep on your neighbour's shoulder.
Norwegian Cruise Line launches 2024 Europe travel season
Europe certainly has a lot of ports. Its time for Australia to up its game.
“The power of travel for positive change” – Intrepid’s Jenny Gray hails controversial all-women Saudi Arabia trip
There is an awful lot to love about this tour from Intrepid. Where do we sign up?
Princess names the Sun, unveils Sanctuary Collection + Star Princess to Alaska in ’26
A huge bottle of Veuve was smashed into the side of the ship to make things official. So no, we couldn't snag a glass.
Collette special offers across peak northern summer season
If you are craving a trip to Europe then grab this deal with both of your grubby hands.
Air India and All Nippon codeshare between the two countries
Here at TW we agreed that the photo would have worked better if they had swapped planes.
A&K offers minimum 18 weeks paid parental leave
Contrary to what the photo suggests this benefit is only applicable for humans. Back to work Mrs Jumbo.
NH Hotel Group rebrands as Minor Hotels Europe & Americas
Hang around the bends of the hotels. We imagine they will be full of a lot of branded content.
Scenic Eclipse II – the business of creating unforgettable life-changing memories
These cruise brothers from another mother offer a view of cruising on Scenic Eclipse II that is poles apart.
MSC builds new hospital ship with Mercy Ships
If you want to read a story that puts a smile on your face then this is the one for you.
“I peed on myself watching this” – Social media users squirm at Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of The Seas 55ft dive video
TW is not responsible for any involuntary actions your body might have after watching this video.
FLIGHT REVIEW: Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner business class
The real bonus is you're unlikely to be around screaming children. Hoorah!
Traveltek offers travel agents new rapid deploy cruise website
As always, if you have any issue with the platform, just turn it off and on again.
Experience whale watching & classical music at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville
Disappointedly, the whales do not start singing in tune with the orchestra. Opportunity missed.
Fond, very Fond. London hotel famed for James Bond link adds ‘Classic Comforts’ lunch menu
James Bond author Ian Fleming was so fond if this hotel, it inspired the legendary phrase ‘shaken, not stirred’.
What sets Eclipse Travel apart with Africa expert Hilary Dubyk: Travel Weekly TV
If you want to know more about Africa, then Hilary Dubyk is your person.
Surge in Australians visiting Japan
Feel like all of your friends have just returned from Europe? Now it's Japan.
Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit
Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]
Sydney named 17th best place to work remotely
If you struggle to get a seat within Sydney's coffee shops, you now know why.
W Melbourne grows sales team
We appreciate the thought that has gone into this team photo.
Cunard welcomes new ship Queen Anne
This might be the most impressive ship handover in ship handover history.
Intrepid Travel appoints Yvette Thompson as general manager sales & marketing ANZ
It isn't end-of-day Monday and Yvette Thompson has already nabbed herself an impressive promotion.
Anna Fawcett re-joins Global Touring in newly-created APAC role
With such an impressive CV, Global Touring is no doubt thrilled to have Fawcett back.
“We know our response has been far from perfect” – Emirates’ open letter following Dubai flooding
If you also need to write an apology letter, then this is a pretty good template.
Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa
Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]
Virgin Australia’s HILARIOUS second instalment of the ‘Bring on Wonderful’ campaign
We don't use the word 'hilarious' lightly, but this is worthy of the title.
Visit Sunshine Coast reveals new brand identity
If you were looking for another reason to visit the Sunshine Coast then this is it.
Sofitel launches brand campaign starring Sex Education’s Gillian Anderson
We can confirm the content of this video is less spicy than Sex Education.
Holland America Line gives agents the chance to visit Alaska on 11-day Famil
If you've ever wanted to see a Polar Bear (and who doesn't?), now is your time.
More than 65 luxury agents gather in Sydney for Best of the Best dinner
This looks like a fabulous do. We imagine there may be a few (or maybe 65) sore heads this morning!
I am quite serious when I wonder if (in the long term) that was a loss? 883m (compared to the 1bn bailout of the BNZ which is now owned by NAB) I wonder how much money the NZ government receives as investment returns on that capital?
just lucky the NZ govt bailed them out when they went completely broke in 2001 !!!!