Air NZ’s Saudi contract apology: 'We have fallen short'

Air NZ CEO Greg Foran and chair Therese Walsh

Thu, 11 Feb 2021

Air New Zealand gave a textbook apology for allowing its gas turbines unit to do work for the Saudi Arabian navy, with chief executive Greg Foran telling MPs at Parliament the airline is “not where we need to be” in its processes.The national airline has been deeply embarrassed by news reports this week that its low-key specialist engineering unit had taken on contracts through a German third party to repair two Saudi naval ships' engines and a gas-fired power plant belonging to the navy.Saudi Arabia is blockading ports of its n...

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 steady despite US slump

Financial adviser says investors holding their breath for reporting season.

Tom Raynel 6:10pm

Infrastructure

Cyclists not part of new road-user charge framework

Govt announces a proposed new road-user charge framework.

Staff reporters 3:40pm

Cyclists not part of new road-user charge framework

Infrastructure

Making fast-track fast again

Shane Jones says he'll 'exterminate' any issues holding up applications.

Oliver Lewis 2:00pm

Sponsored

A decade in, Spark’s AI journey is paying off

The telco’s use of AI offers insights for every Kiwi business.

Spark

Sponsored

Datacom at 60: NZ tech trailblazer eyes the AI future

As it turns 60, Datacom embraces a radical new direction.

Datacom

More Services

Services

Food Chain report shows $9m owing

More than $9.1m is owing in the liquidation of food supplier Food Chain, the first report in the insolvency shows. The company, which has ceased trading, had approximately 60 staff, and is also in receivership. The first liquidators' report of Adam Botterill and Damien Grant...

Staff reporters 11 Jul 2025