Air New Zealand toasts 75 years in style

Air New Zealand toasts 75 years in style

New Zealand’s national carrier has spared no expense in celebrating the 75th anniversary of its first commercial flight, with over 100 guests hosted for lunch at Rose Bay’s Catalina restaurant.

The launch followed an hour long Sydney harbour cruise aboard the ferry Lady Herron. The vessel was styled in the livery of a 1940s era Air New Zealand Solent flying boat for the occasion and featured a trio of singers. The inaugural flight in 1940 from Mechanics Bay in Auckland Harbour to Rose Bay in Sydney Harbour took around nine hours.

AIRNZ75RUSH_0014During lunch guests were taken through the various eras of Air New Zealand’s history. Staff members portraying flight crew from across the decades provided a tongue in cheek look at how the airline had evolved both in terms of technology and style.

New Zealand’s high commissioner to Australia Chris Seed spoke of the two countries’ close relationship and the importance of the airline in bringing the nations together and fostering mutual ties.

Guests also heard from Air New Zealand chief sales and commercial officer Cameron Wallace, and watched a video tribute from New Zealand prime minister John Key, who recorded it from Riyadh. The event’s MC was Leanne Geraghty, Air New Zealand’s general manager Australia.

AIRNZ75RUSH_0024

Latest News

  • Hotels

Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]

  • Tourism

Nielsen Data reveals brands spending big to attract Aussie tourists

TripADeal had the biggest outlay of the more than $153 million spent on travel and tourism advertising in Australia in the first quarter of 2024, followed by Virgin Australia and Flight Centre-owned Ignite Travel, new Nielsen Ad Intel data has revealed. And the industry ad spend enjoyed an increase of 8 per cent on the […]

  • Luxury
  • News

Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]

  • Partner Content

My journey: Before becoming a travel agent I was… a palliative care nurse 

Australind Travel & Cruise, Travellers Choice member Saibra Twigg reveals her life as paediatric nurse then to palliative care before a career leap to travel agent. How did you become a palliative care nurse?  ST I went straight from school in nursing and initially specialised in paediatrics, working at Perth’s Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. […]

Partner Content

by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly
  • Destinations
  • News

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 […]