Fare giveway to mark Air NZ's birthday

Air New Zealand's first Boeing 787-9. An airline needs a lot of money to invest in new planes that cost more than $150m each.

Air New Zealand is today marking the 75th anniversary by giving 75 customers the chance to win back their fares and a special service to Sydney.

The airline's maiden flight by a Short S30 flying boat took off from Mechanics Bay in Auckland on this day in 1940 and landed in Rose Bay in Sydney. The Aotearoa made the flight in a time of nine hours with just nine passengers on board.

To celebrate the first service the commemoratively themed Auckland - Sydney flight will take travel industry representatives to an event in Rose Bay. The airline is using its newest plane, the 787-9 Dreamliner on the flight which will feature a fashion show of crew uniforms from different decades and a themed menu based on what was served on board in 1940.

The Dreamliner can carry up to 302 passengers and the flight time is around 3 hours 10 minutes.

As part of the fare giveaway, 75 passengers who book economy tickets on the New Zealand storefront of Air New Zealand's website any time today or tomorrow will be randomly drawn to win a refund of their fare. Draws will be made and winners notified throughout the 48-hour period.

The first TEAL aircraft, ZK-AMA Aotearoa, flying above Auckland. Photo / Wikimedia user Bahnfrend

A sea plane landing in Rose Bay, Sydney. The maiden flight landed in Rose Bay on this day in 1940. Photo / Wikimedia State Records NSW

Christopher Luxon, Air New Zealand chief executive. Photo / Paul Taylor

For customers flying domestically today the airline is bringing back the Kiwi quiz show It's in the Bag on "a surprise and delight basis" on main city and regional services. Customers will be given the chance to turn contestant and choose between 'the money' (Airpoints Dollars) or 'the bag' (a mystery prize).

Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon said the airline has enjoyed the ongoing support of Kiwis throughout its 75 years and today is an opportunity to include customers in the anniversary celebrations.

As the national carrier, our history is just as much about New Zealand as it is about Air New Zealand so this is something for all of us to celebrate together.

Christopher Luxon, Air New Zealand chief executive

"As the national carrier, our history is just as much about New Zealand as it is about Air New Zealand so this is something for all of us to celebrate together," Luxon said.

The airline has also announced today it will bring its retrospective exhibition developed in partnership with Te Papa and currently on display at the national museum in Wellington to Auckland where it will open at Auckland War Memorial Museum on November 20.

The exhibition had attracted almost 250,000 visitors since it opened last December.

Watch Air New Zealand's corporate 75th celebration video