Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland International) will begin studies involving its future widebody requirements towards the end of this year airline Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Christopher Luxon has said.

Speaking to CAPA at the recently ended IATA 2017 AGM in Cancun, Luxon said the aircraft required would have to be able to service ultra-longhaul routes between New Zealand and North and South America.

Among the types to be considered include the upgraded A350 from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) - presumably the A350-1000 and the A350-900(ULR), as well as the B787-10 and B777X Family of aircraft. According to Luxon, Air New Zealand's objective is to penetrate deeper into the Americas where it currently deploys almost 20% of its weekly capacity.

Air New Zealand's longhaul fleet currently consists of eight B777-200(ER)s, seven B777-300(ER)s and nine B787-9s (with a further four due for delivery).