Jim Harré retires after five decades at Air New Zealand

Jim Harré began his career with Air New Zealand in 1974 as an International Flight Attendant. He later became an Inflight Service Director and took on additional responsibilities as a wine consultant and buyer in 1997. Although he stepped down as Inflight Service Director in 2006, he continued serving as the airline’s wine consultant.

Reflecting on his tenure, Jim stated: "Reflecting on my time with Air New Zealand, it has been an incredible journey, sampling and showcasing the best of New Zealand's wines on the ground and in the air and sharing that with millions of Air New Zealand customers has been an extraordinary experience."

He emphasized the unique challenges of selecting wines suitable for aircraft environments: "The aircraft environment requires wines that can maintain their aromatic integrity despite lower cabin pressure. Additionally, the altered taste perceptions of customers at 30,000ft make the selection process both challenging and intriguing."

As Jim enters retirement, Air New Zealand is set to announce new consultants who will continue his legacy.

Air New Zealand follows a rigorous selection process for its inflight wines. Nearly 200 wineries submit their finest selections annually. These are blind-tasted by experts before being shortlisted for inclusion in Business Premium cabins and lounges.