Perhaps the 'buy it now' price for the minibus had something to do with the corrosion now being experienced int he current 320 wings, do to having been left out in the open at the UK site, without (I believe) any protection?

I'll also add my vote to the FD's a d*ck-head count.

Air New Zealand's multimillion-dollar silver lining

Air New Zealand couldn't resist a little gloating when announcing the commitment to buy and lease 14 Airbus A320s to replace its Boeing aircraft on domestic routes.
Although it is not releasing details of the deal, the airline said it had got $1.4 billion worth of aircraft at bargain prices, buying at the bottom of the cycle for airlines and plane makers.
UBS analyst Jason Bloom is picking Air New Zealand got a discount of between 40 and 50 per cent on each plane it is buying. Off the peg, they sell for just on $100 million, including cabin fitout.
"You can make significant amounts of money if you negotiate at the right time, which they've done."
The three-year delay for the long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner also played into the airline's hands, Bloom says, allowing it to play Airbus off against its rival which is in a slightly weakened position.
The deal will see capex take off at Air New Zealand which has new Boeing 777-300s arriving next year. The airline expects capex to rise from $200 million this year to more than $600 million by 2012, and those figures exclude the A320s.

Bloom says they will add around another $50 million a year. Other carriers who committed to the A380 super jumbo have been spending heavily. "Air New Zealand has essentially had that [capex] holiday - they've been quite fortunate with the timing of the financial crisis."

Air NZ has always had a pilot seniority system. The most senior applicant gets the vacancy. That is what is so great. It allows a pilot to have choice as to their life style. Pilots who get a higher rank by this system should'nt complain if they are out bid by a more senior pilot at their next assumed promotion so what is the problem?.
To those aspiring applicants - Air NZ is'nt compulsory, you don't have to join. If you don't like what's being offered then join another airline!!

So what does all this mean for potential recruitment next year? With 50ish on 'yes letters' and a whole heap of stagnation in the Links, will this plus the introduction of the 777-300's get the ball rolling a bit? Or will those of LWOP return and keep the brakes on for a bit longer?

Those on LWOP are minimal. Maybe a dozen or so. There is fat in most, if not all, ranks. With 14 A320's replacing 15 B733's over next 6 years and 5 B773's replacing about 6(effective operating) B744's over next 2.5 years and efficiencies with less fleet types I would think it will be a while before anyone is taken on. Retirements are an unknown but also minimal.

Air NZ unveils new A320 at Paris Airshow

10:15 AM Tuesday Jun 18, 2013

http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webconte...PP_460x230.jpg

The new A320s feature 2.4 metre high curved wing tip devices known as sharklets.

Air New Zealand has rolled out the first of its brand new Airbus A320 aircraft - which feature impressive curved wing tips - at the Paris Air Show overnight.
The national carrier is the launch customer for the A320s and has purchased ten of them to join its fleet between now and 2015.
Designed to increase fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions, the new planes are built with 2.4 metre-high wing tip devices known as 'sharklets'.
David Morgan, chief flight operations and safety officer, said the A320 was at the core of the airline's domestic fleet.
The airline was committed to moving all domestic flying to the aircraft type to take advantage of the fuel efficiency gains on offer, he said.
"In a seat to seat comparison, the sharklet-equipped A320 will burn 18 per cent less fuel per passenger compared with our Boeing 737-300 jets, which are scheduled to be phased out of our fleet over the next couple of years," Morgan said.
https://zen.nzherald.co.nz/media/web...0_sharklet.jpg

The sharklet-equipped aircraft would save 250 tonnes of carbon per year compared with the usual A320, Morgan said.
Morgan said Air New Zealand was proud to have its aircraft selected to be part of the Airbus display at the Paris Air Show.
The prestigious event, now in its 50th year, brings together industry players from across the globe to showcase the latest technological developments in the field.
To see a video of the sharklet

Would have thought they could have used the new design.

Air NZ unveils 'distinctive' new look - Business - NZ Herald News

ANZ launch customer? Thought I just saw a jetstar A320 down near John Hollands with the shark things.

I believe AirAsia was the launch for sharklets few months ago. There are at least another dozen airlines in addition.

Looks like more of a desperate PR stunt.

I believe Air New Zealand was the first airline to order A320s with Sharklets, so by virtue of this became the launch customer.

Hence the recognition as such by Airbus and the reason the a/c was at Le Bourget. Of course other airlines subsequently ordered a/c with the Sharklets and converted their positions on the production line to Sharklet a/c.

I hope this clears up the misconception and explains why there are already Sharklet equipped a/c out on line ahead of the 'launch customer' receiving their first a/c.

Oh yeah that makes sense.....PR machine in action there. The first to pay for it and get one is the launch customer in my mind.

http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/new...equipped-a320/

So,AirNZ is the launch customer and AirAsia is the first operator.Got it.

Jeeze....winglets have only been on 73NG for the last 12 years.
They're nothing new.

Can't believe Airbus have only just worked that out! :}

Has Boeing trademarked the word winglets? Just wondering why Airbus calls them sharklets...surely a bit insensitive considering where AF447 ended up...

Shame Boeing can't update the rest of the air-o-plane, "Catch me Wilbur Catch me" -

Airbus tried and failed to make their own blended winglets for the A320 last decade.

Eventually a few years ago they went to Seattle with their tail between their legs and Aviation Partners (the ones who make the 737NG blended winglets) sorted them out.

I guess that's why they look very similar to the 737NG blended winglets.

As for the "sharklets" name... I guess the PR department is desperate to make them sound like new technology... after all, no other airliner has "sharklets"!

derfred
 

Not exactly

Airbus sues Boeing partner over winglet patent | Reuters

Ha Ha.....that's really funny. Do you live with Alice in Wonderland or with the Tinman in Oz?

Google it for the real story......