Air NZ places order for 14 A320s

Air New Zealand said Tuesday that it will consolidate its short-range fleet around Airbus aircraft saying it will buy 14 new Airbus A320 aircraft to replace its current domestic fleet of 15 Boeing 737-300 aircraft.

Air New Zealand's general manager for short haul operations, Bruce Parton, told Dow Jones the decision was motivated by technical factors, such as the width and cargo system of Airbus aircraft, as well as price.

The first A320 will arrive in January 2011, Air New Zealand said, with the remainder progressively introduced until 2016. Air New Zealand has also secured purchase rights for a further 11 aircraft, it added.