Air New Zealand showed its dedication to our national rugby team by painting its newest plane all black.
The Airbus A320 which is painted to support the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup campaign 2011, landed at Auckland Airport to a cheering crowd on the 1st of February.
A silver fern motif decorates the tail and the slogan "crazy about rugby" is splashed across the side of the aircraft that is going to be used for the domestic market in New Zealand
On board was All Black captain Richie McCaw who was welcomed by a group of Air New Zealand staff performing the same haka the players do before a game.
Richie McCaw said he was impressed by the plane and said it showed the airline's devotion to supporting the All Blacks during the Rugby World Cup later this year.
The plane's touchdown yesterday marked the end of its three-day journey from the Airbus manufacturer base in Toulouse, France. It then flew through Canada, Denver, Los Angeles, Hawaii and Samoa before arriving in Auckland
It will begin a nationwide tour on February 6.
The aircraft is Air New Zealand's only black plane but is the first of the airline's new jet fleet of 14 Airbus A320s as it replaces its Boeing 737-300 aircraft for domestic routes.
The airline has painted planes black to support previous All Blacks World Cup campaigns.
Formula One organizers have called off the season opening Bahrain formula 1 Grand Prix because of anti-government protests.
