With COVID-19 travel restrictions easing in parts of the world, airlines are gradually rebuilding their networks. Routes analyzes some of the services returning as well as new routes being launched. This week: airBaltic’s new route to Dublin; Air New Zealand resuming flights to Tokyo; and Luxair re-entering a market it last served in 2007.
Air New Zealand has postponed the launch of its long-awaited nonstop Auckland-New York service until late 2021 “at the earliest” and confirmed two other international long-haul routes will not return to its network.
American Airlines is expanding service to New Zealand from next year, becoming the only carrier to fly non-stop from the US to the country’s South Island.
After almost 40 years linking Auckland with London via Los Angeles, Air New Zealand is ending the route in favour of launching a non-stop service between its home hub and New York. Routesonline looks at the airline’s long-haul changes.
Air New Zealand is boosting capacity on its Auckland - Gold Coast route by almost 60 percent from early next year at the same time as AirAsia X ends its service.
The shortlists for the prestigious Routes Asia 2018 Marketing Awards have been revealed, with 22 airports and destinations recognised for their exceptional marketing services.
Tianjin currently has limited connectivity outside of Asia from Binhai International Airport, but is increasingly being seen as an alternative access point into China’s capital city, Beijing, which is just 120km away and a journey of just 35 minutes by high-speed train.
With China representing the single largest growth market in the world for the next decade, how can aviation best cater for the rising numbers of tourists.
There has been a steady increase year-on-year in the number of Hong Kong and China travellers visiting New Zealand. According to official figures from Statistics New Zealand, as of March 2016, the total number of visitors from Hong Kong and China were up 19.1 percent and 27.8 percent, respectively.
Air New Zealand is continuing to use its expanding Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet to grow its presence in long-haul markets. The airline confirmed this week that it will introduce the type on its new route between Auckland and Buenos Aires, Argentina as it also debuted the type on a scheduled exclusive basis in the North America market on its Auckland - Honolulu route.
The new year-round service will operate three times a week using Boeing 767-300 equipment with a flight time of around 10 and a half hours in each direction, subject to government and regulatory approvals. Flights are due to commence from December 2016 and full schedules will be confirmed when reservations are opened around mid-year.
The Gulf carrier will be able to hold claim to the world’s longest commercial flight, as well as beginning new services in Europe, Africa and South West Pacific / Southeast Asia
Emirates cannot hold claim to the world’s longest route – a service from their hub in Dubai to Auckland, New Zealand – for much longer. Fellow Gulf carrier, Qatar Airways have announced their service from Doha to Auckland to begin in December.
Auckland Airport was crowned winner of the second regional heat of the 2016 Routes Marketing Awards at a ceremony last yesterday (Monday, 7 March) in Manila in the Philippines.
New Zealand's Auckland Airport was announced as the overall winner of the Routes Asia edition of the Routes 2016 Marketing Awards which were formally announced last night during the Networking Evening event which took place at The Blue Leaf Filipinas in Manila, Philippines.
The resumption of the non-stop seasonal service between Auckland and Osaka by Air New Zealand between November 2016 and March 2017 will contribute an estimated $24 million to the New Zealand economy, during the operation, according to Auckland Airport.
Emirates already operates three daily A380 flights into Auckland but up until March 1, 2016 these all operated on a direct, one-stop basis via Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. In late January this year it revealed plans to introduce this fourth rotation, the first to operate non-stop between Dubai and Auckland, providing more efficient connectivity between New Zealand and markets across the Middle East, Africa and in to Europe.
