B744 exits Air NZ fleet

[c100driver]

NZ Hearld

Air New Zealand's last jumbo has completed its final passenger flight for the airline but will carry on flying for another carrier.

The 16-year-old Boeing 747-400 touched down in Auckland this morning and has been sold to global aircraft supply company AerSale.

It will continue flying for a so far undisclosed carrier.

The final Air New Zealand jumbo flight departed last night from San Francisco where airport staff served cupcakes to departing passengers, one of whom reportedly flew from Britain especially to make the last journey on the plane, registered ZK-NBV.

[Ollie Onion]

What the hell are they doing, everyone knows that a big fleet of 747's is the way forward. When they see the remarkable turn around at Qantas in the next 12 months they will be wishing they had kept some gas guzzlers!!

[Collando]

Don't worry the've got plenty parked at Victorville that they haven't sold if they need them.

[mattyj]

Most probably selling the last 2 to Qantas to help finance another 789 or 773
;)

[ozziekiwi]

Anyone know which overseas carrier ZK-NBV is going to end up with ?

Landed on 23L at AKL last week and saw it half in and half out
of the Air New Zealand hangar (tail in first) with the hangar doors shut,
perhaps getting a new paint job on the tail - looked hush hush.

Thanks in advance

[haejangkuk]

Met a Kiwi captain who moved from th B744 to the T-7. He lamented that he can't make greser landings anymore! To him, he always make greasers on the B744 but the B777-200 is a real bitch!

Is the B744 such an esay plane to land? I have never flown one.

[frangatang]

Easier than an RV6, thats for sure.

[Oakape]

The T-7 is an easy plane to land too! But as a mate of mine found out, you can't use the same technique as you do with the 744.

A light 767 - now that's a whole different story!