NZ Minister of Defence Judith Collins, speaking at RNZAF Base Auckland, announced the large investment in New Zealand Defence Force operating funding ahead of the country’s 2025 Budget.
From December, Qantas will operate non-stop A330-200 services from Perth to Auckland and Johannesburg, adding more than 155,000 seats per year and bolstering the airport’s role as the Flying Kangaroo’s western hub.
The Northrop Grumman-manufactured high altitude, long endurance, remotely piloted aircraft system, labelled online as United States military A57-002 (similar aircraft pictured), arrived at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory earlier this week.
ZK-NZH, which returned from its refit in Singapore last month, will fly from Auckland to Brisbane on 19 May before taking off for its first long-haul flight, from Auckland to San Francisco, later in the evening on the same day.
