Air New Zealand Introduces New Loyalty Program ‘Koru’
- Joe Breitfeller
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Air New Zealand has announced that from April 2026 their Airpoints loyalty program will transition into ‘Koru,’ a completely refreshed program.
On Wednesday (November 19, 2025), Air New Zealand announced the most significant evolution of their loyalty program in nearly 30 years. From April 2026, the Airpoints loyalty program will transition to Koru, a new name and a new era of recognition. One key development of the reimagined loyalty program is the introduction of Koru Black, a new top-earned tier designed to recognize Air New Zealand’s most loyal members with an elevated level of recognition and rewards. To qualify, members must earn over 3,200 Status Points, including 1,920 from qualifying flights in a year.
In Wednesday’s announcement, Air New Zealand’s CEO, Nikhil Ravishankar, said,
“Airpoints has been an important part of our story and now, that story is evolving. Koru symbolises care, connection, and renewal. For our members, the name Koru inspires pride, belonging and a sense of place, especially when travelling far from home. Now it's at the heart of loyalty at the airline.
“We’ve listened to what matters most to our members. We’re proud to be introducing a more rewarding experience that feels simpler, more personal, and unmistakably Kiwi. Koru builds on everything our five million members love about loyalty, shaped and inspired by their feedback.
“To say thank you for the continued support of our most frequent flyers, and the miles they’ve travelled with us, we're gifting a selection of rewards to those who qualify for Koru Black between now and April 2026, before they officially move to their new tier.
“Reaching Koru Black often means flying further, travelling more often, and spending time away from home. Koru Black members have trusted us with their journeys time and time again and we want to recognise that loyalty with something truly special – the ability to share their travel experience.
“Koru Circle lets members share some of the comfort, care, and recognition of Koru Black with friends and whānau. Travel is most meaningful when it’s shared and Koru Circle helps our most frequent flyers extend some of their benefits to the people who matter most.
“There’s more on the horizon including introducing new partners, delivering new and exclusive ways to fly with Air New Zealand using Airpoints, and new opportunities to earn Airpoints and Status Points to ensure our members get even more value from every journey. Our members have helped shape this programme through every journey, every piece of feedback, and every moment they've chosen to fly with us. We’re incredibly grateful for that loyalty and we can't wait to welcome our members into this new era.”
From today, Koru Black members will receive and additional Recognition Upgrade and short haul Recognition Upgrade. They will also enjoy access to an express lane trial for aviation security screening at Auckland Domestic Airport between November 19-28. Additionally, Koru Black members will receive additional valet parking vouchers on December 8th, and more opportunities to unlock recognition faster.
Starting April 2026 Koru Black members will gain access to some of the airline’s most exclusive benefits including Koru Circle, which offers the ability to share some of the comfort and recognition of Koru Black with those who matter most to them. Members can choose from two packages, the Family Package or the Friends Package. The Family Package includes one Koru Black Nominee, and Koru Family Nominees for dependents, while the Friends Package includes two Koru Black Nominees.
Additionally, reaching Status Points milestones will be recognized with special rewards like a Koru Black banked year, or curated gifts and experiences. Members will also enjoy access to the new Koru Premier Lounge at Auckland International Airport when it opens, additional Recognition Upgrades and Valet Parking Vouchers, as well as enhanced OneUp™ offers, upweighted by 60 percent.
Source: Air New Zealand