Years after it was first announced, Air New Zealand has unveiled its huge new maintenance base at Auckland Airport and says it marks a bold step in its operations.
Hangar 4 is touted as a state-of-the-art facility and one of the national carrier's most significant investments in its infrastructure.
Outgoing chief executive Greg Foran and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at Friday's opening. Photo: RNZ / Calvin Samuel
It is the largest single-span arch aircraft hangar made from timber in the Southern Hemisphere.
The hangar is 10,000 square metres, 35 metres high and almost 100 metres wide.
Air New Zealand said that space meant it could house a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and two Airbus A320 or A321s at the same time.
The new maintenance base at Auckland Airport. Photo: RNZ / Calvin Samuel
It said it will also prepare the airline for the future as it awaits next-generation aircraft, with the hangar desigend to last five decades.
Timber was chosen because of its lighter weight and ability to be sustainably sourced, the airline said.
Photo: RNZ / Calvin Samuel
It's made from wood from plantations in Nelson and Wodonga, north-east of Melbourne.
The hangar's trusses each weigh 38 tonnes and were built in 25 metre sections by being put together on site and lifted into place with the country's largest crawler crane.
There is no surface cabling, with underground service pits being used instead.
Photo: RNZ / Calvin Samuel
Air New Zealand said Hangar 4 connects with Hangar 3 next door through shared workshops and tool stores which will boost efficiency across its maintenance.
The numbers
- First announced in 2019
- 10,000 square metres
- 35 metres high
- 98 metres wide
- Designed to serve the next 50 years
- Targeting a 6 Green Star rating
New hangar ready as airfares expected to rise
Photo: RNZ / Calvin Samuel
Chairwoman Therese Walsh acknowledged at Friday's opening there had been difficult times for the airline.
Air New Zealand reported a profit drop last month and warned passengers should expect airfares to be hiked 5 percent to meet increasing costs.
Net profit of $126 million, down from $146m the year before, came amid soft demand and continuing engine maintenance and plane supply issues.
An Air New Zealand aircraft at the new maintenance base in Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Calvin Samuel
The airline said at the time it had been hard coping with fewer people flying and, at times, more than 10 planes grounded for engine maintenance.
It had also been grappling with rising fuel costs and regulatory charges.
Outgoing chief executive Greg Foran warned at the profit announcement that the coming year would be as tough as the last.
Air New Zealand said its fuel bill had fallen 12 percent because of lower world prices and fewer flights, but it was offset by higher equipment, labour and landing charges.
Photo: RNZ / Calvin Samuel
A cost cutting programme had resulted in about $100m in savings.
Last year the airline sent planes that were out of service because of ongoing Rolls Royce and Pratt & Whitney engine supply challenges to be stored in Alice Springs.
It sent A321 and 787 planes that could not be used, with up to four aircraft on the ground there at any one time.
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