Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland Int'l) has announced it expected to deploy its first A321neo in commercial service in mid-November 2018. According to Airline Route, the type would initially operate predominantly trans-Tasman services to Australia.
The type will debut on November 12, 2018, on the Auckland Int'l-Sydney Kingsford Smith route. Subsequently, the A321neo will be deployed to Coolangatta/Gold Coast (from November 13), Brisbane Int'l (November 18), Melbourne Tullamarine (November 25), Tongatapu (December 18), Apia Faleolo (December 28), and Nadi (January 30, 2019).
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, Air New Zealand has orders for four A320neo and eleven A321neo directly with Airbus. The carrier will also add two A320neo and three A321neo from lessors' orders, bringing the total numbers to six and fourteen, respectively.
Air New Zealand expects the deliveries of the six A320neo (with 165 seats) and first seven A321neo (with 214 seats) through late 2019. These aircraft will replace A320-200s currently operated on Australian and Pacific Island services. A further seven A321neo, due for delivery between 2020 and 2024, will be deployed domestically.
The carrier's narrowbody fleet currently includes thirty A320-200s.