Air New Zealand increases Queenstown winter flights

Air New Zealand has further increased nonstop flights from Sydney to Queenstown - one of New Zealand's most popular holiday destinations - to meet continuing strong growth in ski holiday bookings this year.

With the 2003 NZ ski season barely underway, the national airline announced today six additional Boeing 737 flights from Sydney each Thursday from 31 July to 4 September - the second increase in services from Sydney to Queenstown this winter.

Air New Zealand has already announced a special Tuesday service from 15 July to 16 September, to supplement its year-round Sydney - Queenstown flight, which operates every Saturday.

All of the Sydney - Queenstown flights will depart at 9.35am and arrive at the South Island resort town at 2.45pm local time - a journey of just three hours, 10 minutes.

From 12 July to 20 September, Air New Zealand also will reinstate the popular Brisbane - Queenstown winter service, departing at 8.15am every Saturday and arriving in Queenstown at 1.50pm - a flight of three hours and 35 minutes.

The Queenstown flights will all be operated with Boeing 737-300 aircraft, seating 114 passengers in a two-class cabin - 12 in Business Class and 102 in Pacific Class. These aircraft are configured to full international standard, and feature inflight audio and video entertainment.

"Queenstown is New Zealand's most popular holiday location, and continues to attract an increasing number of Australian visitors," said Mr Paul Donovan, Vice President Australia for Air New Zealand. "With strong early demand this year for NZ ski holidays, we are confident that we can fill the extra flights from Sydney and Brisbane with skiers and snowboarders  from eastern Australia - as well as visitors keen to experience the many other attractions of Queenstown."

As well as being the gateway to the magnificent Coronet Peak and Remarkables skifields, the Queenstown region is home to a vast range of other attractions, from thrilling jetboat rides and many other adventure activities to wine trails, fine dining, lake cruising or just the easy art of sightseeing.