Sunday, August 25, 2024 A very special Air New Zealand charter flight departed Christchurch on Saturday afternoon, taking 50 Koru Care kids on a scenic tour over the South Island. Koru Care is a charity that provides memorable experiences for children with serious medical conditions or disabilities. Air New Zealand has partnered with Koru Care for more than 40 years, helping dreams take flight.
For this weekend’s event, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner took off shortly after 1.30 pm and made its way down the centre of the South Island, flying over Queenstown and heading south, before turning up the East Coast and over Dunedin, then returning to Christchurch shortly after 3 pm. The plane soared at an altitude that offered the Very Important Passengers on NZ8477 (NZVIPS) a stunning view of the South Island scenery.
Air New Zealand’s Chief Pilot Captain David Morgan, who was in the flight deck, says it was a unique opportunity for both the VIPs onboard and plane spotters on the ground. “It was fantastic to be able to give children who may not have the opportunity to travel overseas the thrill of flying on one of our larger international aircraft, over some of the world’s most stunning scenery right here at home,” Captain Morgan says. “It’s not every day a 787 Dreamliner circles the South Island, so we couldn’t resist giving a friendly wave to everyone down below as we soared overhead.
” Before takeoff, the VIPs enjoyed a pre-flight party at Christchurch Airport with .