Air New Zealand has announced a collaboration with Spanish charter airline Wamos Air to enhance its services to the Pacific during the busy Christmas and Easter travel periods. Wamos Air will provide select flights to popular destinations, including Samoa, Fiji, Tahiti, Tokyo, and Bali, as Air New Zealand grapples with ongoing engine supply challenges that have impacted its fleet.
According to Air New Zealand’s Chief Commercial Officer, Jeremy O’Brien, this partnership is a strategic move designed to bolster customer confidence amid high demand during the summer season. “This is a proactive measure we’ve taken to protect our customers’ journeys over the summer period. This partnership means we have some additional flexibility and resilience at a time when demand is at its peak,” O’Brien explained.
The airline is facing significant challenges, with a projected 20 percent of its fleet—specifically 11 aircraft—expected to be grounded in the latter half of 2025 due to engine-related issues from their suppliers, Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney. These difficulties have led to increased maintenance demands for the engines used in most of Air New Zealand’s aircraft.
To fill the operational gap, Wamos will operate an Airbus A330-300, equipped with 31 lie-flat Business Premier seats, 48 Premium Economy seats, and 185 Economy seats, offering passengers a comfortable travel experience.
This partnership not only reflects Air New Zealand’s commitment to maintaining service reliability, especially during peak travel times, but also highlights the broader dynamics within the aviation sector. Similar airlines in the region, like Fiji Airways and Air Vanuatu, are also adapting to operational challenges, emphasizing the resilience and evolving strategies that carriers are employing to meet customer needs as tourism recovers.
The renewed focus on expanding air services and partnerships signifies a hopeful outlook for the Pacific airline industry, as operators work to enhance connectivity and support tourism growth in the region, providing travelers with more options and greater assurance in their travel plans.