Final Commercial Air New Zealand B747 Service Operated by B747-400 ZK-NBV

Air New Zealand has operated its last commercial Boeing B747-400 flight with ZK-NBV - named "Christchurch" - touching down at Auckland Airport early on Friday 12 September as ANZ7 from San Francisco.  It will be the final commercial service the jumbo operates for Air New Zealand.  ZK-NBV (msn 26910) was delivered brand new to Air New Zealand on in November 1998.

For Central Queensland plane spotters, ZK-NBV operated a number of charter flights over recent years on behalf of the Singapore Armed Forces, flying between Singapore's Changi Airport and Rockhampton Airport, flying troops to participate in Exercise Wallaby.

  

I believe its last visit to Rocky occurred over Tuesday 22 October and Wednesday 23 October last year when it positioned from Auckland to Rockhampton before operating a charter flight to Singapore and back to Rocky.

On Wednesday 23 October 2013, ZK-NBV departed Rockhampton for the last time, ferrying empty as ANZ6032 back to Auckland.

To mark the end of the 33 years of Air New Zealand flying the B747-400 - as well as the 'classic' B747-200 - the company will reportedly be holding staff open days at their Auckland Jetbase.  It is understood ZK-NBV will soon head overseas for maintenance and re-delivery to continue its passenger flying career - which is great news.

File photos taken by 'IAD'  ©