Air New Zealand's CEO Resignation: A Blow to the Airline's Future?

The resignation of Air New Zealand's CEO, Greg Foran, has sent shockwaves through the aviation industry, leaving investors and stakeholders wondering about the airline's future. Foran, who had been at the helm for five years, announced his departure on October 20, 2025, leaving a significant void in the company's leadership.

Foran's resignation comes at a critical juncture for Air New Zealand, as the airline grapples with operational and economic headwinds. In the 2024 financial year, the airline reported a 65% drop in net profit, with earnings before tax falling to $222 million from $574 million the previous year. Net profit after tax was $146 million, compared with $412 million the year before. The airline attributed this decline to a "tougher economic backdrop in New Zealand," operational challenges, inflationary cost pressures, and the impacts of aircraft availability issues and elevated competition on US routes.