Koru Loyalty Programme: Air New Zealand Replaces Airpoints in Major Revamp for 5 Million Members

Air New Zealand (NZ) has officially launched its redesigned loyalty programme, “Koru,” from 22 April 2026, replacing the long-standing Airpoints™ system and transitioning more than five million members into a simplified, tier-based rewards ecosystem. The program has been rolled out globally from New Zealand, signaling a structural overhaul in how the airline recognizes customer loyalty and travel behavior across its domestic and international network.

The airline, which a week ago introduced lie-flat sleeping pods for economy passengers on ultra-long-haul routes on its Boeing 787-9, stated that Koru has been developed after extensive customer feedback and aims to align loyalty benefits with modern travel patterns. Air New Zealand Chief Commercial Officer Scott Wilkinson said the redesign reflects a demand for clarity and relevance, noting, the carrier had closely listened to members, who “told us they want a simpler program with clear, relevant benefits”, and Koru is the carrier’s response.

Air New Zealand Koru Programme Replaces Airpoints with Simplified Structure

The introduction of Koru marks the formal retirement of Air New Zealand’s Airpoints programme, with all existing Airpoints Dollars and Status Points automatically transitioning into the new framework. Members retain their earned value, while their historical status is mapped into equivalent Koru tiers without loss of benefits.

According to Air New Zealand’s official announcement, the programme restructures loyalty into clearer progression pathways. The airline stated that the aim is to reduce complexity while preserving continuity for frequent flyers and occasional travellers alike.

Koru Loyalty Tiers and Status Benefits Across Air New Zealand

Koru introduces multiple membership tiers, including:

• Koru Bronze
• Koru Gold
• Koru Platinum
• Koru Black, which is newly introduced and is positioned as the airline’s highest recognition tier for frequent travelers.

Koru Gold members will receive milestone Status Rewards and two Recognition Upgrades per membership year, allowing cabin upgrades upon qualification or retention of status.

Koru Black members will gain additional privileges, including the ability to share benefits with family or friends through “Koru Circle,” reflecting a broader interpretation of loyalty that extends beyond individual travel behaviour.

A further mechanism, “Status Retain,” will be introduced later in April 2026 to support members close to maintaining their tier level, ensuring continuity of benefits even when thresholds are narrowly missed.

Air New Zealand NZ Focuses on Everyday Earning Through Partners

Koru Bronze serves as the entry point into the programme, allowing members to accumulate rewards through everyday spending. Air New Zealand has integrated more than 40 partner organisations across fuel, groceries, retail, and financial services, enabling incremental earning opportunities outside air travel.

The airline has positioned this structure as a shift toward continuous engagement rather than flight-only accumulation. This approach aligns loyalty rewards with routine consumer behaviour, extending the programme’s relevance beyond aviation activity alone.

The following table gives us an idea of the benefits that nominees of Koru get:

Auckland International Airport AKL to Receive New Koru Premier Lounge

Air New Zealand has also confirmed the development of a new Koru Premier Lounge at Auckland International Airport (AKL), New Zealand’s primary international gateway. Construction is expected to begin later in 2026, with the facility designed to nearly double the airline’s existing lounge footprint at the airport.

The new lounge will be divided into two distinct zones: one dedicated to Koru Platinum and Koru Black members, and another serving Koru Gold, Star Alliance Gold, Koru Silver, and Koru Club passengers. The segmentation reflects a tier-based spatial strategy aimed at differentiating premium customer experiences within a single facility.

Let’s now take a look at the various lounge access that members of Koru are entitled to:

Air New Zealand has positioned Koru as a foundational shift in its customer engagement model rather than a simple programme refresh. Scott Wilkinson emphasised that the redesign is intended to reflect evolving travel motivations, stating that “Travel means different things to everyone… We want people to feel recognised in a way that reflects that”:

“Loyalty is about recognising and rewarding our customers in ways that feels meaningful. Koru delivers that, with greater flexibility, more choice, and benefits that reflect how people travel today. And this is just the beginning.”

The airline indicated that Koru would continue to evolve with expanded partners, additional earning mechanisms, and enhanced redemption options. The programme also aligns with Air New Zealand’s broader sustainability and network strategy, which focuses on strengthening connectivity across its domestic routes and long-haul services through alliance partnerships.

Comparing Koru with New Zealand’s Airpoints

For decades, Airpoints has been Air New Zealand’s long-running frequent flyer loyalty programme. It functioned as a rewards-earning system, where customers accumulated value through travel and partner spending. This has been different from, “Koru” which is referred to a separate premium membership product, not a points-based loyalty system.

The following table gives us a cue where the Koru and Airpoints intersect: