On August 25, 2024, Air New Zealand operated an unusual panoramic flight (flight number NZ8477) over the South Island of its home country.
On board were 50 children with various medical conditions who were able to enjoy the views of some of New Zealand’s most magnificent landscapes.
This charter flight was organised by the airline in collaboration with Koru Care, a volunteer-led charity dedicated to providing unforgettable experiences for children in medical care.
The flight was operated by an Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9, which took off from Christchurch (CHC) and then flew south over the central parts of the South Island. Upon reaching Queenstown, the aircraft turned east and then north to fly along the east coast, eventually landing back in Christchurch approximately 1.5 hours after takeoff.
The children, who enjoyed VIP treatment throughout the experience and were welcomed on board by Air New Zealand CEO Greg Moran, were also invited to a pre-flight party at Christchurch Airport.
The party’s theme, ‘Around the World in a Day’, offered a glimpse of several Air New Zealand destinations, such as New York, Tokyo, Fiji and Sydney, through food and activities. Each of them also received a certificate stating that a star in the sky had been officially named after them.
Air New Zealand stressed in its press release that it would offset the CO2 emissions of this flight through carbon credits and a donation to a biodiversity program.
These special flights have been operated by Air New Zealand in cooperation with Koru Care for over 40 years.
Air New Zealand operates 14 Boeing 787-9s, most of them on long-haul international flights from Auckland (AKL), at the northern tip of the country’s North Island, which is why overflights of these aircraft over parts of the South Island are a rare sight.
