After three decades of service for our national carrier, Air New Zealand's last 767 aircraft will make its final flight on Friday night.
In September 1985 the Boeing 767 was a modern and popular addition to Air New Zealand's fleet. Over the past decades it's become the workhorse of trans-Tasman flying, as well as being the airline's go-to aircraft for flights to the Pacific Islands and Japan.
Now with the arrival of Boeing's Dreamliner, the time has come for the 767 to retire from our skies and make way for the more cost-effective, modern fleet of 787s.
The fleet of 767s has played a major role in our country's aviation history. Team New Zealand flew on a 767 when they brought home the America's Cup in 1995. One also flew Pope John Paul II in 1986.
It was also the 767 and its distinctive extended wingtips that flew fans of the Aurora around the Southern Ocean earlier this month.
The final run for the 767 is a return to Sydney tonight - leaving Auckland just after 4pm and arriving back in Auckland right on midnight.
Where does it go when it's retired?
The last two Air New Zealand 767s to be retired from the airline have been sold to overseas freight companies. They will be stripped, and refitted to begin a new life carry boxes and parcels instead of people.
One of the first Air New Zealand 767s to face retirement is now continuing as a passenger airliner on the other side of the world, a very proud Iceland Air took on the aircraft early last year.
The 767s were due to be retired more than five years ago, but delays in the rollout of the new Boeing Dreamliner's meant their time at Air New Zealand was extended.
But, today their time in New Zealand skies comes to an end, and after midnight tonight the Koru will be removed from the tail of one of New Zealand's longest serving aircraft - closing the curtain on more than 30 years of service.
Newshub.
