Air New Zealand launches mobile service with One NZ

Air New Zealand has launched a mobile service in partnership with One NZ, offering travel eSIM plans and a monthly domestic mobile plan.

Branded Air New Zealand Mobile, the service is aimed at international visitors travelling in New Zealand, New Zealanders travelling overseas, and local customers seeking a prepaid monthly option for use within the country.

Customers on any mobile network can use the travel eSIM plans, which can be set up around a traveller's route and dates, including transit stops. This allows users to arrange mobile data access before departure.

The travel eSIM product will cover more than 140 destinations and is designed for common uses such as navigation, messaging, and voice or video calls through internet-based apps.

The move marks a further step by the airline into services beyond air travel, using its customer base and brand recognition to expand into mobile connectivity. It also reflects growing interest in eSIM products among travellers looking for alternatives to conventional roaming plans and physical SIM cards.

Jeremy O'Brien, Chief Customer and Digital Officer at Air New Zealand, said the launch was intended to deepen the airline's relationship with customers and open a new line of business.

“People might fly with us a few times a year, but staying connected is something they need every day. We're excited to offer customers something beyond their next flight through a brand they already know and trust.

“We're always interested in ways to offer more value to our customers. Air New Zealand Mobile is part of our focus on extending our tourism offer to inbound visitors. By bringing together our customer relationships with One NZ's connectivity expertise, we have created something genuinely useful while opening a new revenue opportunity for the airline.”

Travel focus

The companies gave the example of a passenger flying from Auckland to London via Singapore, who could arrange data coverage in both Singapore and the United Kingdom before leaving New Zealand. International visitors will also be able to get connected before arriving in the country.

That travel focus comes as airlines and telecoms groups look for additional ways to reach customers outside their traditional markets. For airlines in particular, ancillary revenue streams have become an area of focus as they seek income beyond ticket sales, loyalty programmes, and onboard services.

O'Brien said the mobile offer was intended to make connectivity simpler for customers both abroad and at home.

“Whether it's finding your way around New York, discovering hidden gems in New Zealand, booking your next adventure, or keeping in touch with loved ones back home, staying connected makes travelling that much easier,” O'Brien said.

The domestic part of the offer is a prepaid monthly plan that bundles calls, texts, and data for use in New Zealand. It will also allow the airline to remain engaged with customers after they have completed their journeys.

“We want to make staying connected simple, whether you're travelling overseas or going about your everyday life here in New Zealand. Our monthly mobile plan gives Kiwis another great-value option for staying in touch and means we can be there for our customers long after they've landed,” O'Brien said.

Partner role

One NZ is providing the connectivity infrastructure behind the service. The telecommunications company said the partnership brings together two well-known New Zealand consumer brands with a shared focus on mobile access for travellers and domestic users.

“Air New Zealand and One New Zealand, two great NZ brands working together to help Kiwis take on the world. It doesn't get much better than that,” said Joe Goddard, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at One NZ.

The companies linked the launch to rising demand for eSIM roaming products. They cited expectations of almost five-fold growth in global revenue from travel eSIM services by 2030, underlining the commercial opportunity in the segment.

Goddard said One NZ has an established position in travel connectivity and is adapting to changing customer behaviour as eSIM use grows.

“One NZ has a rich history of providing great-value connectivity for Kiwis travelling abroad, keeping them connected as soon as they land. As more travellers embrace eSIM technology, we're working with Air New Zealand to make staying connected even easier, while giving customers more choice for their mobile needs at home,” Goddard said.