Air New Zealand's last Jumbo jet is due to make its last passenger flight from Auckland on Wednesday.
The 16-year-old Boeing 747-400 will fly to San Francisco and return two days later.
Although the airline has not announced its fate, it is unlikely to be scrapped or parked up like other jumbos have in recent years.
"Unfortunately we're unable to say more publicly at this point while the deal is being negotiated," an airline spokeswoman said.