The position of Flight Attendant is one of prestige and immense responsibility. Whether it is on international or national services, our Flight Attendants are our front line staff who have the crucial responsibility of upholding our reputation in the eyes of the travelling public.
The philosophy for Air New Zealand inflight service is: "To be simply the best in the delivery of products and services to our customers, with a style, flair and warmth that is unique to Air New Zealand."
Recruitment is conducted according to operational demands and there can be periods of up to 12 months where no new intake is required. However, applications are always welcomed. See below for specific details.
Positions
International (Longhaul) - Auckland based Flight Attendants
Auckland is the home of our International Flight Attendants and we currently have in the vicinity of 1300 Cabin Crew in this base. Auckland based Flight Attendants operate to all of our international destinations with the exception of London, Noumea and Norfolk Island.
Pacific (Shorthaul) - Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch based Flight Attendants
Pacific Cabin Crew are based across three geographic locations in New Zealand. They fly domestically and regionally to destinations of no more than 4 hours in duration. Shorthaul operates our domestic, Tasman and Pacific services.
Temporary Flight Attendants
As the aviation industry is subject to peak seasonal demand, there are occasionally opportunities for temporary Flight Attendants who work on a fixed term basis. The selection criteria for temporary crew is the same as for permanent positions, and they operate the same routes and rosters as permanent crew members.
London Based Flight Attendants
Our London based Cabin Crew operate solely on the London - Los Angeles and London - Hong Kong route. These crew are employed directly from the United Kingdom and all applicants must have UK patriality, or the ability to work indefinitely in the United Kingdom. More Information.
Requirements
There is strong competition for the relatively few vacancies which become available according to operational requirements and not all applicants will be interviewed.
Applicants must meet the requirements as outlined below:
New Zealand Residency
Only permanent New Zealand residents will be considered including those born outside New Zealand. You must reside in New Zealand at the time of application.
Age
The minimum age requirement is 18 years due to the Sale of Liquor Act amendment.
Passport
Applicants require a current passport allowing unrestricted access to all Air New Zealand destinations, with an expiry date of a minimum of 2 years from the date of your application.
Health
Good health is essential and if you progress through the selection process, you will be required to undertake a medical examination.
Height
Applicants must be able to reach overhead emergency equipment and this will be specifically tested during the selection process. For safety reasons the acceptable height range is 160cm-185cm.
Eye Sight
Your unaided vision must be sufficient for you to perform all Flight Attendant safety related duties in an emergency. If you wear glasses or contact lenses you will need to submit an optometrist's report detailing the level of unaided vision.
Personal Attributes
A warm, natural and friendly personality with a strong sense of responsibility is essential. Flight Attendants must be able to deliver the service our customers value in a uniquely Pacific way. Flight Attendants must have a practical and mature approach to all situations and be able to work well in a team environment. Communication skills are most important, along with the ability to deliver service in a relaxed and refined manner. Vitality, resourcefulness, enthusiasm and flexibility are also attributes we search for in candidates. Naturally, the ability to relate to all customers from a diverse range of cultures is a key prerequisite for this position.
Security
Prospective employees under-go Aviation Security Clearance and Policy checks as part of the application process.
Qualifications
Education
We have a minimum requirement of three years secondary education, with a preference for applicants who have successfully completed further education and/or any vocational study.
First Aid
Prior to attending an Assessment Centre you need to hold a current First Aid Certificate (St. John's or Red Cross). First Aid Certificates are not required for registered nurses.
Swimming Ability
Successful applicants will be required to demonstrate their ability to swim 50m unaided.
Preferred Skills
Languages
Special attention is given to the cultural and language needs especially relating to the Airline's key markets such as Asia, Japan and Europe. A second language is preferred and priority will be given to applicants who are fluent in Japanese, Cantonese, Mandarin, German, French and the languages of the South Pacific. Flight Attendants with language skills are tested, and may be rostered on the appropriate routes.
Customer Service and Service Industry Experience
Our customers are our highest priority, therefore we seek to recruit Flight Attendants who have enjoyed working in and have excelled at customer contact positions. Experience could be in restaurants, hotels, catering or other positions that involved a strong customer service focus.
The position will often involve meeting the requirements of guests with special needs, such as the elderly, children and infants, the sick and people with physical disabilities.
About the Role
The working schedule of a Flight Attendant is a busy one with the duty periods rostered up to 18 hours with extensions to 20 hours in a disruption situation. You can also expect to be away from home for up to 10 days at a time. This job is of a physical nature including the lifting of heavy luggage and galley equipment.
Long night flights, time zone changes and extended periods on your feet are all aspects of the job which are physically tiring. The impact on social and family life are significant with 18 days away from Auckland out of each 28-day roster period. Working through weekends and public holidays is often required.
Recruitment Process
After you submit your application online, the Air New Zealand HR Services Team review the details you have provided. Candidates whose details closely match the requirements of the position are then contacted via email advising that their application has progressed to the next stage of the recruitment process. Potential Candidates are then asked to attend a Walk In day. This could occur several weeks or months after the original application has been submitted, depending on current needs.
The Walk In day consists of a brief presentation about the role and a short interview. Candidates who are successful at the Walk In day are notified by email or phone within 10 days and invited to attend an assessment centre. Please note candidates are required to pass a swimming assessment before attending the assessment centre.
During the assessment centre, candidates attend a one on one interview as well as participating in a number of assessments. Verbal referees are then contacted, and candidates attend a pre-employment medical check, as well as undergoing a Ministry of Justice check (Police and Courts) and obtaining Aviation Security clearance.
At times, there may not be an immediate need to recruit for Flight Attendant positions, however, the company continuously maintains a 'candidate pool' of candidates who have completed the assessment centre. These candidates are contacted when a need for new Flight Attendants is established, and attend a final interview before a decision is made on whether to extend an offer of employment.
Due to the volume of applications received, Air New Zealand is not able to offer verbal feedback to candidates who are unsuccessful at any stage of the recruitment process. Unsuccessful candidates may reapply at any time after 12 months from the date at which their applications are declined.
Training
All Flight Attendants are based in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Upon being offered a role as a Trainee Flight Attendant, a 5 week training course is undertaken at our Inflight Services Training Centre in Auckland. Material covered during initial training includes emergency procedures, customer care and service delivery, aircraft and equipment knowledge, products and services training including image and presentation. To successfully complete the 5-week training course high standards must be attained and maintained in all subjects. Assessments of all practical and written work will be carried out throughout the course and an outline of levels to be achieved will be available at commencement of the course. Ongoing training is given to further develop the skills and career path of Flight Attendants.
Career Path
Upon graduation from the Training Centre a Flight Attendant becomes a Flight Attendant Pacific Class whose main duties will be to provide inflight service to customers in the Pacific Class cabins of the aircraft. Inflight performance reviews are carried out regularly to ensure standards continue to be met. Pacific Class Flight Attendants can apply, and will be selected on merit to operate as a Flight Attendant Premium Service. In this position a Flight Attendant is responsible for providing service to our Premium customers.
A Flight Service Manager is responsible for the overall service delivery as well as conducting performance reviews of the Flight Attendants. The Flight Service Manager is deputised and supported by an Inflight Service
Co-ordinator.
Both these positions are selected from Flight Attendants who display a strong sense of customer service, leadership and business acumen.
Uniforms and Grooming
All uniforms are provided and Flight Attendants are expected to maintain all the Company's grooming and uniform regulations. A high standard of presentation in uniform is expected at all times. A Flight Attendant's personal presentation and grooming should reflect a professional, sophisticated image for the Airline. The first impression of a Flight Attendant should always convey a friendly, natural, pleasant personality possessing confidence and warmth.
Applying
To apply now, please click on the button below. You will be required to provide an email address.
Apply for this position in the following locations:
Auckland
Christchurch
London, UK
Pre Employment Training Option
Should you wish to up skill prior to making an application for this role, Air New Zealand Airline Training offers the Air New Zealand Certificate in Airline Customer Service.
No guarantees of employment are provided with this training programme, although it has been designed with aviation industry input to ensure graduates have the skills being sought.