Airmail stamps may have been issued sooner if early postal delivery trials by air within New Zealand had been more successful. However, in 1922 it was concluded that the aircraft in use were unsuited to long distance flights and the trial service was not well patronised by the public.

It was overseas developments which prompted the 1931 issue. At the Universal Postal Union Convention in 1929, an international agreement was drawn up where mail that was posted in New Zealand could utilise airmail services in Australia, Canada, North America and the Karachi-London service. This agreement came into force in July 1930.

Surcharging the threepence King George V stamp for airmail services was considered but this was abandoned in favour of a new issue for mail flown over part of its route abroad.