Air New Zealand has announced that its chief financial officer, Richard Thomson, will resign from the airline, departing on August 28. This marks another change for the carrier as it navigates soaring jet fuel costs and a multi-million-dollar loss in the first half of the year.
Thomson rejoined Air New Zealand in March 2021, bringing with him extensive experience from previous senior commercial and finance roles within the business. His return came at a critical time, as the airline worked to stabilise its finances and rebuild after the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic.
During his tenure as CFO, Thomson played a central role in the airline’s recapitalisation and its broader recovery efforts, while also managing ongoing challenges tied to aircraft availability—issues that continue to weigh on operational performance.
“Richard has been Chief Financial Officer of Air New Zealand during one of the most significant periods in our history. He has brought deep financial expertise, strong commercial judgement, and a calm, disciplined approach to the role,” Air New Zealand chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar said.
Ravishankar described Thomson as an “exceptional leader and a highly respected member of the executive.”
“I would like to thank him for his leadership and commitment and wish him all the very best for the future.”
The airline confirmed it has begun the search for a new CFO and will provide an update once the appointment process is complete.
Air New Zealand has warned that surging global oil prices have sharply increased its jet fuel costs, and its daily fuel bill has now doubled as a result of the spike in prices.
In response, the airline has moved to adjust its operations, including cutting flights and increasing airfares.
The airline has also reported an interim $40 million net loss after tax for the first half of the financial year, reflecting a combination of higher operating expenses, ongoing fleet constraints, and softer domestic demand, factors that continue to test the resilience of the national carrier in a challenging global environment.