Air New Zealand and Fly Buys today announced a new partnership creating an exciting range of benefits for members of both the Air New Zealand AirpointsTM programme and Fly Buys loyalty programme, totalling more than half of New Zealand's population.

Fly Buys members will soon be able to redeem their Fly Buys Points for any available seat on any Air New Zealand flight. While Air New Zealand Airpoints Programme members will be able to earn Airpoints DollarsTM by shopping at any of the 3,000 retail outlets across the country that are part of the Fly Buys programme.

One in five Kiwis currently benefit from the Air New Zealand Airpoints Programme, which rewards customers with benefits and allows them to accrue Airpoints Dollars. While Fly Buys, which is managed by Loyalty New Zealand, has one of the highest active household penetrations in the world of any loyalty programme, and is New Zealand's largest, with 2.3 million active members.

Air New Zealand CFO Rob McDonald says that Air New Zealand Airpoints members living in New Zealand will be issued with a new co-branded card, with which they will be able to collect Fly Buys Points that automatically convert into Airpoints Dollars when they make a purchase at a Fly Buys retailer.

"Working with the country's largest and best retail loyalty programme means our Airpoints members will now have even more everyday opportunities to earn Airpoints Dollars with access to the large range of Fly Buys retail outlets.

"Combined with our recently expanded range of credit card partners, Airpoints members will now be able to earn the Airpoints Dollars for a flight even faster," says Mr McDonald.

Loyalty New Zealand CEO Lance Walker says loyalty marketing is critical in today's retail environment.

"Kiwis love to be rewarded and will choose where they shop on this basis. Now the reasons to choose a Fly Buys retailer are even stronger," says Mr Walker.

"It's going to be even easier to collect Fly Buys Points and Fly Buys members will be able to redeem their Fly Buys Points to book any available seat on any Air New Zealand flight. We're thrilled about working more closely with Air New Zealand, our award winning national airline."

Currently more than half a million Fly Buys members already have enough points to redeem a one-way flight between Auckland and Wellington with Air New Zealand.

The exciting new changes are planned to come into effect in mid-November, and the specific details of the partnership will be released closer to the time.