Poll + Story — Earlier today the NZ Herald reported that Air New Zealand is dropping the teal colour from its planes and instead replacing it with black.  We take a look at previous paint jobs – including when Air New Zealand was red and white – and we ask what you think of the plans to drop the teal colour and embrace black.  

History: 
Air New Zealand’s forerunner airline, Tasman Empire Airways Ltd (TEAL), started in 1940 and teal shades have been used in the airline since.

However between 1947 and 1978 the nation’s domestic airline was called NAC – National Airways Corporation – and it merged with Air New Zealand.   NAC was red and white, TEAL was teal and white.  Eventually the red and white was replaced by white aircrafts with the teal and dark blue stripes down the side.

(NAC photo / Wikipedia)

In recent years the airline has gradually had less and less blue and increased white…up until their all black aircraft which was an immediate hit when the new Airbus was painted black in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup.

The airline now appears to be picking up on the growing sentiment that black is seen as our national colour – something WeatherWatch.co.nz polls revealed around the Rugby World Cup when it was suggested that our national flag should be black with a silver fern on it.  The idea was controversial but had significant support, at least from WeatherWatch.co.nz readers.

Air New Zealand says the planes will be white with black letters, a black tail and a white Koru.  Some aircraft will continue to be painted entirely in black says Air New Zealand.

By Head weather analyst Philip Duncan

Do you like Air NZ’s shift from teal to black?