New Air NZ boss talks up growth

New Air NZ boss talks up growth
By admin


The newly appointed successor to Rob Fyfe as Air New Zealand chief executive has insisted the airline is on track to achieve its profit targets by 2015.

Christopher Luxon, general manager of Air NZ’s international airline, was this morning named as the man to lead the carrier when Fyfe steps down at the end of the year.  He will spend the next six months working closely with Fyfe to gain a deeper understanding of the airline, its chairman John Palmer said.

Luxon, who only joined Air NZ 13 months ago from Unilever Canada where he was chief executive, said he would “protect and enhance” the Air NZ philosophy of putting customers at the heart of its business.

He said the carrier was well placed to grow, with a 12-month “deep review” of the international business establishing a strategy that aims to improve profitability by NZ$110 million by 2015.

“I think we on track to delivering that plan,” he said.

The North American market has been “fundamentally strengthening” while Asia also provided huge opportunities.
Fyfe said US carriers are “all positive, and we are a key player in that market”.

Palmer said the appointment met Air New Zealand’s preference of finding a replacement from within.

“But it was important to appoint the best candidate. Those two things have coincided,” he said. “He is a world class executive on every level and will challenge Air New Zealanders to lift the airline’s commercial and customer focus to an even higher level.”

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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