New Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon values alliances as airline eyes Asia and US growth

Christopher Luxon, who next year will take over as Air New Zealand CEO from Rob Fyfe, sees growth opportunities in the carrier's flagship long-haul division. A critical component of that growth will be alliances and partnerships, which in the past three years have taken on greater prominence in ANZ. Short-term growth prospects are in North America, with Air New Zealand evaluating service to destinations like Denver and Houston, hubs for Star Alliance partner United. Medium- and long-term growth opportunities are in Asia Pacific, where partnerships will be even more critical to help ANZ's disadvantaged position of a higher cost base and end-of-line positioning.

Mr Luxon's appointment, effective 01-Jan-2013, fulfils Mr Fyfe's objective to have an internal candidate succeed him, but with Mr Luxon having been with ANZ for a mere 13 months, he also brings critical outside experience. He has been the general manager of ANZ's international division and previously worked for Unilever in Asia, Australia and North America. At 42 years old, he continues the region's theme of young CEOs: Qantas' Alan Joyce is 46 and Mr Fyfe was appointed CEO when he was 44.