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Air New Zealand: Supporting 12,000+ Employees to Commute Smarter

When Air New Zealand decided to bring employees back to the office four days a week, they knew they needed to back that decision with real support. Commuting costs were a genuine pressure for their people and a generic perk wasn't going to cut it.

"We wanted something that our employees would notice and value. Not just a benefit that looked good on paper, but something that actually changed something for them in their day-to-day lives."

They needed a commuting benefit that was practical, nationwide (not just Auckland-centric), and wouldn't blow the benefit budget. That's where Extraordinary and Workride came in.

Why they chose it

Together, the two benefits gave employees a genuine choice of public transport, cycling, or a mix of both. The value showed up directly in employees' payslips, which Felicity's team knew would drive engagement. It also ticked every box they'd set: easy to explain, easy to use, and accessible to employees right across New Zealand.

How they implemented it

The business case went to the executive team in June 2025 and was quickly approved "a no-brainer" in Felicity's words. From there, legal, payroll, comms, and their digital team all worked through the details together. Air New Zealand built the application process directly into Workday, integrating with payroll to remove manual applications entirely. They ran pilots first, then in-person activations from September through November.

"We didn't feel like we were carrying the whole implementation burden on our own. Both providers have been super supportive and flexible right from the start."

The results

• 11% of their corporate employee population are now on the Extraordinary public transport scheme, with an average annual saving of $650 per person
• 700 employees have signed up to Workride, saving an average of $1,700 on the cost of their bike

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