It said in June it expected full-year profit before tax would exceed NZ$525 million, up from a prior estimate of NZ$475 million to NZ$525 million. Air New Zealand forecast that pretax earnings for this business year would improve on those of fiscal 2017, adding it expected investment of about NZ$1.5 billion in aircraft and associated assets over the next four years.
"This year Air New Zealand faced an unprecedented increase in the level of competition from some of the world's largest airlines," Air New Zealand Chief Executive Christopher Luxon said. The company's shares have recorded strong gains this year, reaching a nearly 16-year high last month underpinned by growth in passenger numbers.
Copyright Reuters, 2017