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Air New Zealand announced today a major increase in services from Sydney to New Zealand and the USA, as part of a continuing expansion programme in Australia.
From 27 October, when daylight saving resumes, the airline will add 10 new services per week - eight from Sydney to Auckland and two nonstop flights from Sydney to Los Angeles.
The new schedule lifts Sydney-Auckland flights from 20 to 28 per week and lifts nonstop flights from Sydney to Los Angeles from three to five each week.
The carrier also will upgrade a daily Sydney-Christchurch service from Boeing 737 to larger Boeing 767 jets, increasing capacity by 86 seats per day - equivalent to more than five extra 737s per week.
From Auckland, the carrier will also increase from 10 to 14 flights per week to Los Angeles, providing even more opportunities for Australian
travellers.
Air New Zealand's Vice President Australia, Mr Paul Donovan, said the carrier reduced trans Tasman and trans Pacific flights after September 11, 2001, in response to the global downturn in air travel.
"We have turned the corner," said Mr Donovan. "The market is recovering well and we are increasing flights and upgrading to larger aircraft to accommodate the demand.
"With these new services, we will operate a total of 61 flights per week from Sydney - more than half of our national total of 116 once the new schedule is introduced.
"This is great news for Australians wanting to visit New Zealand, the Americas and the Pacific for business or pleasure.
"It is also excellent news for the Australian tourism industry, which now has greater access to the major tourist source markets of New Zealand, North America and Europe."
The new flights to Auckland - Air New Zealand's primary hub airport - offer greater choice for passengers travelling to and within New Zealand, and more opportunities to connect with onward services to the Pacific Islands.
Air New Zealand recently increased its domestic New Zealand services, and launched a Pacific Air Pass from Australia to five Pacific destinations - Fiji, Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands.
The additional Sydney - USA flights, to be operated with Boeing 747-400 aircraft, will be introduced on Mondays and Tuesdays, complementing the current Wednesday, Friday and Sunday departures.
They will provide wider choice for passengers wanting to continue from Los Angeles to other points within the USA, and to Canada, South America and the Caribbean.
These flights will also add capacity for the North American ski season, which is becoming increasingly popular with Australians.
The new Sydney services follow recent substantial increases in Air New Zealand flights from Queensland to New Zealand, and the introduction of a fourth weekly flight from Perth to Auckland.
Air New Zealand flies to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns and Perth.
Under the new schedule, Air New Zealand will operate a weekly total of 55 flights from Australia to Auckland, 28 flights to Christchurch, 27 flights to Wellington, five flights to Los Angeles and one flight to Queenstown. |
