The first of 14 Airbus A320s Air New Zealand has on order for its domestic fleet has emerged from the paintshop wearing its special ‘Crazy About Rugby’ all black paint scheme to commemorate the 2011 Rugby World Cup, which is being hosted in New Zealand.
The A320 recently flew from Airbus’s Toulouse plant where it was assembled to Hamburg, Germany, where its 171-seat cabin interior fitout is now being installed.
“The aircraft will be completed in approximately three weeks before making its three day journey home via stops in Gander (Canada), Denver, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Samoa and then into Auckland in early February,” said Air New Zealand general manager New Zealand Scott Carr on January 12.
To be registered ZK-OAB, it is the first of four A320s Air New Zealand expects to take delivery of this year, with service entry expected in early February.
“The first four will be delivered this year and the remaining 10 progressively through until 2016, coinciding with the expiry of our current B737-300 aircraft leases,” said Carr.
