Air New Zealand Targets Japanese Travellers with Special Charter Flights

Air New Zealand is to operate a special summer charter service to help grow visitor arrivals from Japan into New Zealand.

The airline will operate charters from Nagoya and Okinawa over the peak December - January tourist season.

The initiative is being supported by Tourism New Zealand, Auckland Airport, JTB, the Okinawa Tourist Service (OKS), Kinki Nippon Tourist (KNT), Meitetsu World Travel (MWT), Club Tourism (CTJ) and Nokyo Tourist Corporation (CTS).

The airline will be utilising 223-seat Boeing 767 aircraft, bringing in an additional 1,100 Japanese tourists to New Zealand over the summer period.

Chris Myers, Air New Zealand's General Manager Japan, said the charter service was the product of discussions last year between Air New Zealand and JTB about ways to stimulate travel between New Zealand and Japan.

"Japan remains a very important market for New Zealand, contributing 96,000 tourists last year – our fifth largest market. It is also one of our highest spending markets," Mr Myers said. "We are committed to growing tourism numbers from Japan and have been working hard to promote the "new" New Zealand, with the aim of attracting tourists to experience-based activities such as hiking and kayaking."

The charter services are scheduled to operate, on 28 December, 4 January, 11 January, 18 January and 25 January.

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