Air New Zealand Completes 75 Years Of Service: On Board Celebrations Make The Day Unforgettable

Air New Zealand completed 75 years of service on April 30. On the occasion of the milestone anniversary, passengers flying from Auckland to Sydney On Thursday had a great time as a journey down the memory lane accompanied by a joyous celebration that had cake, bubbles and a sky high fashion show, to mark the special day.

Air New Zealand's Flight, NZ103, was a special commemorative fight and retraced the historic debut flight of the national carrier's predecessor Tasman Empire Airways Limited's to Sydney on April 30, 1940. In that first international flight, the airline carried 9 passengers and it took nine hours for the plane to reach the destination. The first flight departed from Mechanics Bay in a Short S30 Empire flying boat, in a stark contrast to Thursday's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, reports Stuff.Co.Nz.

Joyful Fashion Show

In the celebratory flight on Thursday, the aisles turned into catwalks for a fashion show and showcased the history of Air New Zealand uniforms. Business class passengers were treated to a special 1940s themed breakfast menu by Kiwi chef Peter Gordon. They indulged in the lemon curd birthday cupcake. Separate celebrations were also held at Rose Bay, Sydney, where the first flight landed.

Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon thanked all for the support extended to the airline all these years. "As the national carrier, our history is just as much about New Zealand as it is about Air New Zealand so this is something for all of us to celebrate together. It really has been a remarkable journey and we want to thank New Zealanders for being part of it," Luxon said.

Year Long Celebrations

The celebrations highlighted the start of an year long activities to mark Air New Zealand's milestone, reports Yahoo News. A retrospective exhibition will be on display at Te Papa in Auckland from November 2015. A book on the carrier's 75-year history has also been published. The New Zealand Post also issued commemorative stamps along with a promotion program in the United Kingdom that will have 75 customers getting return air fares to New Zealand for £75.

(For feedback/comments, contact the writer at k.kumar@ibtimes.com.au)