Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland International) has taken delivery of its first A321neo following the handing over of ZK-NNA (msn 8496) on Wednesday, October 31.

Featuring Pratt & Whitney PW1133G-JM engines, the twinjet is one of five A320neo Family aircraft to deliver to Air New Zealand through 2019 from Air Lease Corporation’s order book with Airbus.

Air New Zealand is expecting a total of fourteen A321neo (leased and direct order) to deliver from Airbus between now and 2020. The jets will feature a single cabin layout with 214 seats.

The first seven will be deployed primarily on key Trans-Tasman and Pacific Island routes with the second batch of seven to be deployed on domestic New Zealand trunk routes.