Air travellers heading overseas and international visitors arriving in New Zealand will soon have a new option for staying connected on their phones.
Air New Zealand has partnered with One NZ to launch Air New Zealand Mobile, offering travel eSIM plans for international visitors exploring the country and Kiwis travelling abroad, alongside a monthly mobile plan for domestic use.
Auckland, New Zealand January 31 2025: Air New Zealand ZK-OXA Airbus A320-232 landing at Auckland International Airport. Another Air NZ flight waiting on the runway. Getty
The service, available from November 12, allows customers on any mobile network to access the travel eSIM packages.
The airline’s chief customer and digital officer, Jeremy O’Brien, said the initiative provided a chance to grow business beyond flights.
“People might fly with us a few times a year, but staying connected is something they need every day,” O’Brien said. “We’re excited to offer customers something beyond their next flight, through a brand they already know and trust. ”
The digital travel eSIM plans can be tailored to specific destinations and dates, including transit stops.
A passenger flying from Auckland to London via Singapore, for instance, can set up data for both stops before leaving, while incoming tourists can get connected before landing.
Users can access data for navigation, messaging, web apps, and voice or video calling across more than 140 destinations.
For domestic users, a prepaid monthly plan will bundle data, calling, and texts into a single package.
Joe Goddard, chief product and marketing officer at One NZ, said the partnership united two well-known brands as demand for eSIM roaming expanded rapidly.
Global revenue from travel eSIMs is projected to see an almost five-fold increase by 2030.
Many telco providers often have eSIM options available for their plans. iStock / damircudic
“Air New Zealand and One New Zealand, two great NZ brands working together to help Kiwi take on the world. It doesn’t get much better than that,” Goddard said.
Pricing and full details of the travel eSIMs and monthly domestic plans will be published on the Air New Zealand Mobile site.
This story was originally published by Stuff and has been reproduced with permission.
