SMBC Aviation Capital Delivers Second Airbus A321-271NX to Air New Zealand Limited

This marks the second delivery to Air New Zealand Limited by SMBC Aviation Capital, as part of a (2) two Airbus A321-271NX aircraft transaction.

Conor Stafford, Head of Airline Marketing at SMBC Aviation Capital, commented: "We are extremely proud of this significant milestone in our partnership with Air New Zealand Limited. The delivery of this state-of-the-art Airbus A321-271NX underscores our commitment to providing our airline customers with the most modern and fuel-efficient aircraft available."

Baden Smith, Air New Zealand General Manager Strategy, Networks and Fleet, said: “We’re excited to welcome this new A321neo into the Air New Zealand fleet. It’s a great addition that will help us deliver more capacity and a quality experience for customers travelling on our short-haul international network. We appreciate the continued support from SMBC Aviation Capital and look forward to seeing this aircraft in action.”

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About SMBC Aviation Capital 

SMBC Aviation Capital is the second largest aircraft lessor globally by number of aircraft and benefits from the strong support of its shareholders Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Sumitomo Corporation. SMBC Aviation Capital has a high-quality global airline customer base with a portfolio comprising 88% narrow-body aircraft and 74% new technology aircraft (by net book value). SMBC Aviation Capital has a strong capital position and holds an A- and BBB+ rating with S&P and Fitch respectively, reflecting the long-term strength of its business. For more information, please visit: https://www.smbc.aero/ 

About Air New Zealand 

Air New Zealand first took flight in 1940 between Auckland and Sydney on a Short S30 flying boat. Today, the airline operates a modern, fuel-efficient fleet including Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, Airbus A320s, ATRs and Q300s, with an average age of 9.9 years. In 2024, it carried more than 16 million passengers and was named the 2025 World’s Safest Airline by AirlineRatings.com. With a strong domestic network connecting 20 regions across Aotearoa and direct international services to Australia, the Pacific Islands, Asia and North America, Air New Zealand offers customers extensive global reach through its alliance partners. Its loyalty programme, Airpoints™, is the most popular in New Zealand with over four million members. The airline’s aircraft are proudly marked with the Mangōpare – the Māori symbol of the hammerhead shark – representing strength, tenacity and resilience.