20 March 2013 signaled the end of the line for Boeing 737-3K2 ZK-NGK as it flew the final scheduled passenger service for Air New Zealand concluding a 12 1/2 year stint with the national carrier.
As PH-TSX the 737 classic initially saw service with Air NZ subsidiary Freedom Air on a short-term lease in the summer of 1999 with it arriving at Christchurch from Brisbane on 12 February still wearing the colours of operator Transavia. It was to wear small Freedom Air titles for the few weeks it was in service and these were removed before its departure from Hamilton on 30 March for Apia on its return to Amsterdam.
The jet was to return to NZ on 06 November 2000 arriving at Christchurch from Cairns and Brisbane still wearing its PH markings and was registered to Air NZ three days later. it was to then be inducted for a cabin refit and heavy maintenance before being test flown on 18 December and that same day it made its first revenue flight for the airline as ANZ468 from Christchurch to Wellington.
Its final flight on 20 March was ANZ535 from Auckland to Christchurch and on its arrival the jet had accumulated over 47000 hours of flying amassed over just under 39300 cycles.
