The growth of its Asian network forced Air New Zealand to buy new widebody aircraft, although long time the DC-8-63 was favored. The DC-10-30, not only the first widebody but the second aircraft type to join Air New Zealand’s fleet, was introduced on January 27th 1973, so that the airline became one of the first operators of the CF6-50 powered DC-10-30. During the 1970s, the fleet grew to eight aircraft which were used on routes to Vancouver, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Singapore and London/Heathrow. A few weeks after the integration of National Airways, the worldwide DC-10-fleet was grounded and the DC-8s were reactivated, but soon this type was, together with the DC-10 replaced by Boeing 747-200, which offered more range. But this was only one reason to replace the Douglas Trijet - a DC-10-30 from Air New Zealand crashed on a sightseeing flight over the Antarctic on Mount Erebus in 1979, only a few months after the infamous grounding. The competition with Fiji airline Air Pacific and the Australian Qantas forced Air New Zealand to phase out the young aircraft in agreement to a rationalization program, which left mainly for ILFC and American Airlines - only one example of the high influence the media has on people. Now, Air New Zealand operates a fleet of 737, 767-200/300 and 747-200/400.
Following aircraft were operated by or for Air New Zealand:
| Registration | Aircraft | Fleetnr./Name | Operated from - to | Where is it now? |
| ZK-NZL | 47846/ 69 | 11.01.1973 - 21.10.1981 | WRITTEN OFF | |
| ZK-NZM | 47847/ 116 | 14.09.1973 - 16.07.1982 | SCRAPPED | |
| ZK-NZN | 47848/ 136 | 18.01.1974 - 26.11.1978 and 16.12.1978 - 14.04.1981 | SCRAPPED | |
| ZK-NZP | 46910/ 182 | 13.12.1974 - 28.11.1979 | WRITTEN OFF | |
| ZK-NZQ | 46911/ 189 | 20.02.1975 - 17.09.1982 | -stored- | |
| ZK-NZR | 47849/ 213 | 02.10.1975 - 18.12.1982 | SCRAPPED | |
| ZK-NZS | 46954/ 227 | 07.06.1976 - 03.1978, 08.1978 - 01.04.1979, 29.10.1979 - 28.06.1982 and 08.07.1986 - 01.08.1986 | -stored- | |
| ZK-NZT | 46950/ 242 | 01.11.1977 - 13.06.1982 and 03.1986 - 03.1986 | -stored- |
Following DC-10 aircraft have been written off during service with Air New Zealand:
ZK-NZP, 46910/ 182
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