logo
Air NZ trialling Starlink internet on domestic flights

Air NZ trialling Starlink internet on domestic flights

Air NZ's Airbus 320 domestic aircraft.
Air New Zealand has started trialling wireless internet on a domestic plane using Starlink satellites.
The airline said from today, passengers flying on ZK OXE, one of its A320 domestic aircraft, would be able to access high-speed, low-latency internet, with an ATR-72 turboprop joining the trial later this month - a world first.
It said Wi-Fi would be provided free of charge during the trial, with passengers able to browse, access social media, stream or play games.
Starlink - owned by billionaire Elon Musk's company SpaceX - uses low Earth orbit satellites to provide internet coverage across the world.
"Being the first airline in the world to trial Wi-Fi on a turboprop aircraft is a proud moment for us, Air New Zealand chief digital officer Nikhil Ravishankar said.
"Our goal is to explore the potential of this technology and understand how it can enhance customer journeys."
Air New Zealand said it was in the testing phase of Starlink's onboard connectivity and sought to understand how it performed in real-world conditions, while gathering customer feedback.
"[Customer] feedback will help guide our decision-making as we consider connectivity options for our domestic fleet," Ravishankar said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Fuelling New Zealand's aviation future
Fuelling New Zealand's aviation future

Newsroom

time4 hours ago

  • Newsroom

Fuelling New Zealand's aviation future

Comment: When I board my flight from Wellington to Sydney, I'm not just thinking about the meetings ahead. As CEO of a transport energy company, I'm acutely aware that the fuel powering that aircraft represents one of our greatest decarbonisation challenges. New Zealand is a geographically remote island, which means air travel is vital to our connection with the rest of the world. Tourism also makes up an essential part of our economy. The overwhelming majority of visitors get on a plane to visit and air transport enables the export of some of our most valuable products to customers across the globe every day. While critical, its contribution to carbon emissions is a challenge that needs to be addressed. Aviation accounts for around 2-3 percent of global carbon emissions, but unlike road transport where we're seeing the adoption of electric vehicles, the technology pathway for low-carbon aviation is far more challenging. There is no battery technology currently on the horizon to power long-haul international flights. For the foreseeable future, if we want to keep flying, we need liquid fuels. Beyond changes such as reducing flights or deploying more efficient aircraft, airlines are looking to alternative jet fuel options, such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), as the most viable solution currently available for a lower-carbon emission future in air travel. SAF is an industry term used for a form of alternative jet fuel made using feedstocks such as forestry residues, municipal waste, or used cooking oils with the goal of reducing the lifecycle carbon footprint of jet fuel. SAF is most typically used by international airlines when blended with conventional jet fuel to form part of the overall fuel mix and is considered as a 'drop‑in' fuel, meaning it can be used in an existing aircraft fleet. SAF was first used in New Zealand in September 2022, when Z, in partnership with Air New Zealand and Neste, imported 1.2 million litres – enough fuel to power approximately 400 return flights between Wellington and Auckland. This remains the largest SAF shipment New Zealand has made to date. The aviation sector globally is showing growing interest in SAF. Some airlines have set carbon emission reduction targets, passengers are increasingly conscious of their carbon footprints, and international regulations are generally evolving towards tighter environmental standards. Yet today, SAF represents less than 1 percent of total aviation fuel use worldwide, primarily due to limited supply and high costs. One of the biggest challenges for SAF production is getting enough of the right feedstock (raw material from which fuels are produced). There are several different feedstocks that are commonly used, such as tallow and vegetable oils. Other feedstocks such as woody biomass or hydrogen can technically be used, however these can be harder or more costly to manufacture. The additional layer of complexity with any feedstock is that many have alternative uses in the energy transition, so the best use case for each feedstock needs to be taken into consideration as countries and industries navigate the energy transition. For me it isn't a question of if we need SAF in New Zealand, but how we will be able to successfully establish its supply for the domestic and Trans-Tasman markets when international demand for the product is increasing. At Z, we've spent considerable time over the past few years working with industry partners across Aotearoa to understand what it would take. Our conclusion is clear: we need supportive policy settings to give industry the confidence to invest, combined with strategic partnerships and economies of scale that can deliver SAF reliably and in the most cost-effective way to our airline customers. The global policy race is already underway All of New Zealand's top 10 trading partners now either have SAF-supportive policies in place or have shown support for it. Many countries already have minimum SAF-blending requirements, and over time, market access may depend on meeting these requirements. Without action to establish policy settings that create a level playing field, our region risks losing competitiveness, increased exposure to offshore compliance costs, and being shaped by policies set by others. The call for supportive policy settings extends beyond Z. Air New Zealand's public support for a SAF mandate last year reflects broader industry recognition of what's needed. We're continuing to collaborate with fuel supply chain partners, airports and airlines and their representative groups to help inform the Government on policy settings that aim to keep New Zealand competitive in an increasingly regulated global aviation market. Collaborative advantage Z's view is that New Zealand's approach to SAF should play to our strengths – our strong relationships, particularly our Trans-Tasman connections, may allow us to access SAF supply more effectively than attempting to build domestic production capacity from scratch. That is why Z is looking to our parent company Ampol, to see what opportunities we can leverage with our joint scale. Ampol's Memorandum of Understanding with GrainCorp and Industry Funds Management Investors (IFM) to explore the establishment of an integrated renewable fuels* industry presents one possible opportunity. The initial priority under the memorandum saw Ampol and IFM progress a feasibility assessment of a renewable fuels facility at Ampol's refinery in Brisbane and work with GrainCorp to explore the supply of homegrown feedstocks, including additional crushing capacity to supply canola oil to the potential future plant. The feasibility work for the plant is now complete, and the project has moved into the next phase of pre-FEED (front-end engineering and design). The project is still very much in its infancy, with much progress to be made before it's determined viable, but it's a step in the right direction. It's not the only project on the table, there are others exploring similar opportunities, and every initiative will keep more options on the table to hopefully see the industry create a viable market in the future. The opportunity remains New Zealand needs to evaluate any SAF policy announced in Australia and be ready to consider how it might be mirrored or adapted for the New Zealand market. This isn't just about following Australia's lead; it's about ensuring we don't create unnecessary barriers that fragment what could be a unified Trans-Tasman market. When policies are aligned, this will help investment stay in our region. Aotearoa New Zealand has a genuine opportunity to be part of building a thriving SAF market that could benefit our aviation sector, climate goals and economic competitiveness. *Note: 'Renewable fuels' is an industry term used for liquid hydrocarbons made from non-petroleum-based renewable feedstocks such as purpose-grown biomass, or from waste material such as tallow or used cooking oil. It includes sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel.

Air New Zealand names new chief executive officer
Air New Zealand names new chief executive officer

1News

timea day ago

  • 1News

Air New Zealand names new chief executive officer

Nikhil Ravishankar has been announced as Air New Zealand's next chief executive officer. In March, the company announced Greg Foran would step down after five years in the top job. He is due to leave the airline in October. Today Air New Zealand announced the appointment of Nikhil Ravishankar, the airline's current chief digital officer, as Foran's successor. "In the nearly five years that Nikhil has been at Air New Zealand he has gained a deep understanding of the aviation sector, and the airline. He has also led major advances in the airline's technology backbone, loyalty programme and customer proposition," the airline said in a statement. Air New Zealand Board chairperson Dame Therese Walsh said the appointment marked the beginning of the next chapter for the airline, "reflecting the strong momentum underway and a new generation of leadership for the future". ADVERTISEMENT The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including UK set to recognise Palestine, fire closes another Auckland supermarket, and Australia's plan to clamp down on YouTube access. (Source: 1News) "Across Air New Zealand we are very clear on what matters most - connecting our communities and country to each other and the world, delivering value and excellence, and running a world-class airline that all Kiwi are proud of." "Nikhil brings the mindset and contemporary leadership we need to build on our strong foundations and focus on the future." Prior to Air New Zealand, Nikhil was chief digital officer at Vector and managing director of Accenture. "I'm both thrilled and humbled to be given this opportunity to lead Air New Zealand," he said. "This airline is an institution with a deep legacy but also a fantastic future. It's a privilege to step into the chief executive role and take on that responsibility for our people, our customers, and our country. Ravishankar will officially take over as chief executive on October 20, 2025.

Backing Our Backyard: Air New Zealand Launches Regional Event Sponsorship Programme
Backing Our Backyard: Air New Zealand Launches Regional Event Sponsorship Programme

Scoop

timea day ago

  • Scoop

Backing Our Backyard: Air New Zealand Launches Regional Event Sponsorship Programme

Air New Zealand is backing the bold, the brave and the brilliantly local, with a new programme set to showcase our nation's regions one event at a time. The airline has today launched the Air New Zealand Regional Event Sponsorship programme, designed to support and scale up new and emerging events in each of the 20 regions it flies to. The new initiative aims to support and promote domestic travel right across the motu, as well as support the collective effort to keep building New Zealand's event calendar, particularly during shoulder and off-peak seasons. Air New Zealand's Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer Kiri Hannifin says the airline is proud to play a part in backing regional creativity and ambition. 'Our goal is simple. We want to back brilliant local events that deserve the spotlight. These events not only celebrate the spirit of their regions, but they also give people another reason to visit, explore, and stay a little longer. Events like the Hokitika Wild Foods Festival are a perfect example – authentically local, proudly unique, and unforgettable. We want to help create more of these all over the country. The kind of events that bring communities together and showcase the best of Aotearoa.' Working in partnership with regional tourism organisations (RTOs), the sponsorship programme will support events in regions across the country. These events may be focussed on sport, arts and culture, food and wine, music, heritage or nature. The airline is backing events that regions across Aotearoa are proud to showcase – helping them draw more visitors, extend their reach, and grow their impact. Support will be tailored to each region. From flights, to marketing and promotional activity, or investment, the selected events will receive a three-year commitment, offering certainty and room to grow. To kick things off, Air New Zealand is launching the programme with support for two standout events: The Spectacle (Nelson) – An unforgettable running festival in Whakatū Nelson, uniquely uniting the high-octane energy of inner-city road running with the adventure of trail running, showcasing events from the mile to the 100 mile. Hamilton Arts Festival Toi Ora ki Kirikiriroa (Hamilton) – A stunning programme of performing arts, showcasing local talent and creating unforgettable moments in the award-winning Hamilton Gardens and across the city's venues and open spaces. A collaborative and community-first approach By working with RTOs, who know their regions best, and complementing investment made by Government in regional events, Air New Zealand is ensuring this initiative boosts existing efforts to develop sustainable, long-term event strategies across Aotearoa. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston was thrilled with the initiative to encourage more visitors out to the regions. 'We've been laser-focused on growing tourism in New Zealand and one way to do this is to encourage people to explore beyond the main tourist centres. 'It means more visitors spending money in local cafes, businesses and accommodation providers, driving economic activity in our regions.' Transport and South Island Minister James Meager added, 'This programme is a win for New Zealand's regions. I welcome all efforts to encourage greater domestic travel and connectivity. 'This sponsorship will help give regions a boost to its visitor numbers – which we know will bring positive flow-on effects for the local economy – and aid our overarching goal of economic growth nationwide.' The airline will prioritise events that are new or emerging, help stimulate visitation outside peak periods, and align with the principles of sustainable tourism and the Tiaki Promise. The goal is to support events that create value not just for visitors, but for the communities that host them. 'This is just the beginning. Air New Zealand will continue to roll out support across Aotearoa, with more regions set to benefit from the programme in the coming months,' says Hannifin. Event operators in Aotearoa can find out more about how to apply by contacting their local RTO directly.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store