‘Hard, painful work’: Outgoing Air NZ boss on engine crisis

Air NZ’s A320 and A321neos have Pratt & Whitney engines, which have been subject to a global recall since 2023 due to parts cracking. (Image: Supplied)

John Anthony

Thu, 25 Sep 2025

Outgoing Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran used his final annual shareholders’ meeting to lay bare the airline’s crippling engine troubles.Air NZ’s A321neos have been caught up in global Pratt & Whitney engine durability problems, while its 787s are affected by worldwide Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 blade issues.Chair Therese Walsh set the stage, stating that engine availability remained its most significant operational constraint, with up to 11 aircraft grounded at times, representing approximately 20% of its jet fleet...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Markets Market Close

NZ sharemarket falls despite positive Fonterra result

The S&P/NZX 50 Index closed down 0.21% or 27.52 points.

Tom Raynel 6:09pm

Primary Sector

Fonterra’s milk supply deal with Lactalis ‘two-edged sword’

Garth Bray 5:00pm

Markets

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare shares dip on new tariff fears

US Department of Commerce launched a “Section 232” on medical products.

Gregor Thompson 4:40pm

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare shares dip on new tariff fears

Sponsored

AI agents: opportunity or graveyard? Spark’s five-point playbook for success

Artificial intelligence agents – autonomous digital entities that analyse data, automate decisions, and act independently – are set to drive a new wave of business transformation.

Spark Enterprise

Sponsored