Air New Zealand operates a significant portion of its domestic routes using ATR 72-600 and De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 turboprops. The airline, founded in 1965 and part of the Star Alliance, is led by CEO Greg Foran. With a fleet that includes 29 ATRs and 23 Dash 8-300s, Air New Zealand holds the title of the largest operator of the Dash 8-300 globally.
New Zealand's geographical layout, characterized by elongated mountainous islands with scattered population centers, necessitates the use of smaller capacity aircraft like turboprops rather than larger Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 planes. According to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, Air New Zealand's busiest ATR route is between Christchurch and Wellington with a total of 594 flights scheduled for May.
Auckland, home to about 1.7 million people and the country's largest airport, serves as a hub for several other busy routes including those to Hawke's Bay/Napier, Palmerston North Airport, and Nelson. These routes reflect the demand for connectivity across both major cities and regional areas.