Air New Zealand has now started looking for UK recruits for its new in-flight International Airline Concierge service launching in May.
The service will be a first in the aviation industry and aims to revolutionise long-haul customers' travel experience.
Air New Zealand General Manager UK and Europe Scott Carr says the airline will employ up to 90 concierge staff worldwide, with 22 to be based in London. The concierges will be dedicated to making every customer journey on an Air New Zealand service a special event - before, during and after flight.
"Our International Airline Concierges will be a combination of travel advisers, disrupt managers, loyalty experts and destinational experts, focused on supporting every customer travelling with us," he says.
Duties will include escorting passengers to and from the aircraft, recommending "must-do" activities to tourists, assisting customers with onward bookings, supporting customers affected by a weather disruption, advising passengers on managing their Airpoints, or talking through the finer points of in-flight wine selections.
It is planned to have the concierges on flights from London from around the end of June 2008. The initiative has grown from feedback from Air New Zealand cabin crew and customers over the past two years, and is a natural complement to the airline's award-winning long-haul product and service.
Mr Carr continues: "This brand-new concierge role will ensure that everyone travelling with Air New Zealand - no matter how full the aircraft - receives the personal attention they deserve and the advice they need."
Mr Carr says he expects to draw from a wide pool of talent - from talented Air New Zealanders to people working in services and hospitality industries or the tourism sector. Those interested in applying for the role can download an application form online, at www.airnewzealand.co.uk/aboutus/careers from Wednesday 13th February. Applications close 27th February.
ENDS
For further press information please contact:
Sarah Hopkins, Communications Manager, Europe 0208 600 7657 or
Victoria Pilkington or Kate Woods at Grayling PR on 020 7255 1100
NOTE: The content of all Air New Zealand media releases are accurate at the time of issue, as stated at the top of each release. For updates on any changes, please contact Air New Zealand.
Air New Zealand is proud to be a member of Star Alliance. The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognised by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award, Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The member airlines are: Adria Airways, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Blue1, bmi, Continental Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI, United and US Airways. Aegean Airlines, Air India, Brussels Airlines and TAM have been announced as future members. Overall, the Star Alliance network offers 19,500 daily flights to 1,071 airports in 171 countries.
For more information about Air New Zealand visit www.airnewzealand.com and for more information about Star Alliance visit www.staralliance.com.
