She said worldwide, airlines generally had more focus now on fleet expansion, which meant airlines would be operating more aircraft.
“And that can only be beneficial to New Zealand, as they look for locations to deploy their fleet,” Moore said.
She said Air New Zealand had been more focused on getting its existing aircraft operating after engine issues grounded them.
Air NZ last week said part of its new strategy was “negotiating an updated 787 delivery profile”.
It indicated no rush to get new aircraft and said it was talking to manufacturers so spending on aircraft this financial year would be less than previously expected.
Auckland Airport chief executive Carrie Hurihanganui said with strong demand for travel, global aircraft availability was the major constraint New Zealand faced.
She made the comments in today’s Herald India Business feature before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit.
“We also continue to regularly engage airlines directly, presenting business cases, tracking fleet availability, and making sure Auckland remains front of mind when network expansion decisions are made,” she said.
Overnight, Airbus said in its Global Market Forecast that urbanisation and GDP growth were driving long-term air travel.
It said smaller cities were set to grow faster than larger ones, which would cause changes to air travel networks.
Airbus said alongside aircraft efficiencies, it forecast greater connectivity beyond trunk routes to smaller and medium-sized cities.
Aircraft such as the A220 could now serve routes such as Melbourne-Alice Springs, Airbus said.
That aircraft also started operating on the Qantas Wellington-Brisbane service this year.
The five-abreast aircraft is the smallest commercial model Airbus currently produces.
A Qantas A220-300 typically has 10 business class and 127 economy class seats. Photo / Airbus
“Enhanced aircraft range is also opening new city pairs, allowing direct connections,” Airbus added.
The European manufacturer had a record-high backlog of 9000 aircraft.
It said post-Covid ageing of fleets was accelerating replacement demand, especially favouring fuel-efficient, new-generation aircraft.
Airbus forecast newest-generation aircraft would comprise almost the entire global fleet by 2045, up from 39% today.
It said 81% of new aircraft needed would be narrowbodies and 19% widebodies, reflecting desires for more cost-effective and lower-emission models.
Airbus highlighted market potential in South and Southeast Asia.
“Traffic patterns are evolving due to robust growth in developing economies like India, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.
“A significant evolution includes increased international migration and family-related passenger travel.”
The manufacturer said global air traffic demand was robust.
“Short term disruptions like regional conflicts and high fuel prices are not dampening demand long term.”
John Weekes is a business journalist covering aviation. He previously covered consumer affairs, crime, politics and courts.
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