Air NZ gets last 747-400 ready for new owners

Air New Zealand Boeing 747 ZK-NBV at Auckland Airport on Sept 20 2014. (Mike Millett)

Air New Zealand’s last Boeing 747-400 is sporting a very different look as the airline prepares the aircraft for new owners.

The aircraft, registration ZK-NBV, ended active service with Air NZ on September 12, with the last flight NZ7 from San Francisco to Auckland.

Since then, it has been in the Air NZ hangar being prepared for as-yet-unidentified new owners, where the aircraft was expected to resume passenger revenue service.

Air NZ has been the sole operator of the aircraft, named Christchurch, since it was delivered in October 1998.

Air New Zealand Boeing 747 ZK-NBV at Auckland Airport on September 13. (Mike Millett) — ZK-NBV on September 13 at Auckland Airport, the day after its final Air NZ flight. (Mike Millett)

Comments (8)

roger tribe

September 25, 2014 at 5:16 pm

im pleased that the air newzealand have upgraded there fleet.
forward thinking, go for it .

roger tribe

September 25, 2014 at 5:18 pm

WHO DARES WINS

Greg

September 26, 2014 at 12:35 pm

It would be interesting to know where it is going. It seems that 747-400s being retired from QF, CX, BA fleets are all going to storage and scrapping. This one is a lot younger, so maybe that helps to find a buyer.

Rob Henderson

September 27, 2014 at 6:24 am

Speculation is Virgin Atlantic may be the new owners

Ron Walmsley

September 29, 2014 at 5:42 pm

If does end up going to Virgin Atlantic it will not be the first 747 the pick up from Air New Zealand as the purchased a couple of -200 when Air New Zealand retired them but i very much doubt it will be them.