Airlines / Air New Zealand / Requirements
Air New Zealand cabin crew requirements
The hard filters Air New Zealand applies before a recruiter reads your CV — age, reach, tattoos, languages and documents, with how strict each one is compared to the rest of the industry.
Minimum age
18 years
Most carriers set 18; Gulf and US majors usually 21.
Height & reach
No published minimum
Reach matters more than height: you must access the emergency equipment overhead.
Tattoos
Some visible tattoos accepted
Visible tattoos are permitted in uniform, including tā moko and other cultural tattoos, provided content is not offensive — a policy few airlines match. Only 8 of 59 indexed airlines accept tattoos that show in uniform — this is one of them.
Languages
Fluent English
Fluent English; te reo Māori, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean or Samoan/Tongan are valued on the network.
Education
NCEA Level 2 or equivalent; customer service experience strongly preferred.
Also required
Medical, swimming & documents
NZ or Australian citizenship or permanent residency; valid passport; able to swim 50 m; functional reach to overhead lockers assessed; pass medical, drug/alcohol and security checks.
Do you meet these Air New Zealand requirements?
Check your answers against Air New Zealand and every other airline in the index — two minutes, no sign-up.
Stricter or softer than its rivals?
| Airline | Min age | Reach | Visible tattoos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air New Zealand | 18 | — | Some allowed |
| Singapore Airlines | 18 | 158 cm height | Not allowed |
| Cathay Pacific | 18 | 208 cm | Not allowed |
| ANA (All Nippon Airways) | 18 | — | Not allowed |
| Japan Airlines | 18 | — | Not allowed |
| Korean Air | 18 | 208 cm | Not allowed |
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum height for Air New Zealand cabin crew?
Air New Zealand publishes no fixed height minimum — the test is whether you can reach the emergency equipment in the overhead compartments.
Can you join Air New Zealand cabin crew with tattoos?
Visible tattoos are permitted in uniform, including tā moko and other cultural tattoos, provided content is not offensive — a policy few airlines match. That makes it one of the more flexible policies in our index.
What age do you need to be to apply to Air New Zealand?
The minimum is 18. There is no published upper limit at most carriers, and experienced applicants in their 30s and 40s are hired regularly.
Requirements change without notice — tattoo and grooming rules in particular have been relaxed at several airlines since 2022. Always confirm on Air New Zealand's official careers page before ruling yourself out.