Former Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe called Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's critique of the airline's recent $242 million loss "uncool."
Fyfe defended current management, stating the airline's challenges are long-standing. He noted these issues stemmed from decisions made during his and Luxon's tenures as CEO.
Prime Minister Luxon, representing majority shareholder taxpayers, had labeled the financial result a "pretty poor performance."
Air New Zealand reported the significant loss for the 2026 financial year in late August.
The airline attributed the loss to high jet fuel prices and persistent, costly engine maintenance issues.