Ron Twine is hanging up his crew uniform after 53 years of flying, starting his epic Air New Zealand career in 1970.
The longest-serving flight attendant in Air NZ’s history, Mr Twine’s last flight from Vancouver to Auckland touched down on 19 June 2023.
“Being a flight attendant isn’t a job, it’s a lifestyle and something I have absolutely relished for 53 years. I’m going to find it really hard not to be with my friends and flying family,” he said.
Life in the air
Mr Twine was an international flight attendant for his entire career and welcomed millions of passengers on board, including celebs. He helped train and mentor colleagues and made lifelong friends with many passengers, even meeting his wife, Nikki, on board.
“It was her first day as an international flight attendant for the airline when we met waiting for our luggage at Los Angeles Airport. I made a joke about Nikki’s suitcase being old and out of fashion, when my own was the exact same make and was held together with duct tape,” he said.
The pair have been inseparable ever since and married for nearly 30 years. Mr Twine will officially retire on 23 June 23 to concentrate on golfing.
A passion for travel
He encourages anyone who loves to travel and has a passion for people to consider a career in flying.
“As a flight attendant, you wear so many hats, you take on the role of counsellor, nurse, babysitter, entertainer and the best part is you get to help people. It’s so very rewarding, you’ll never look back.”
Air New Zealand General Manager Cabin Crew Viv Vincent said Ron is an inspiration and will be missed.
“Ron is somewhat of a legend here in our cabin crew whānau. He is known for going above and beyond in his role, going that extra mile to help our customers, whether it’s comforting customers with a fear of flying or consoling crying children, he’s amazing at what he does,” Mr Vincent said.
“To work with us for over half a century is such a milestone and he deserves to be celebrated.”
Find out more about how Air New Zealand’s currently flying post-pandemic here.
