New Zealand

The carrier hopes to begin two new routes to the country in January after delaying its original launch plans.

A travel bubble between New Zealand and the Cook Islands is scheduled to open on May 17.

The startup had intended to fly routes between New Zealand and the Cook Islands.

Some airlines in the countries are now ramping up Trans-Tasman capacity

The airline is restoring Tasmania to its network after a 23-year absence. The route comes as New Zealand’s government has announced the extension of an air connectivity scheme.

China’s aviation authority has given the go-ahead for a pair of new international passenger services.

Jim Parashos, executive general manager of aviation at Brisbane Airport, discusses the impact of state border restrictions in Australia, the importance of a travel bubble with New Zealand, and the longer-term impacts of the airport’s new runway.

A new COVID-19 case in New Zealand prompts Australia to take action.

Passengers from the Cook Islands can resume quarantine-free travel into New Zealand from Jan. 21.

Carriers in both countries await the establishment of a two-way travel bubble.

Routes analyzes some of the services returning as well as new routes being launched. This week we look at Qantas resuming trans-Tasman flights; Air India expanding with a new Canadian service; and Air Arabia Abu Dhabi’s latest network addition.

Qantas is looking to take advantage of the relaxation while Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand react more cautiously.

Routes looks at the impact of Air New Zealand’s decision to ground its Boeing 777 fleet for a year.

Air New Zealand’s new CEO Greg Foran has warned that the airline does not expect a return to long-haul flying “of any note” until next year.

Routes' latest update on how airlines and airports across the Asia-Pacific region are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

National carrier Air New Zealand accounts for two-thirds of seat capacity, with Jetstar and Qantas Airways the next two largest carriers in the country’s market.

A seven-year alliance between Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia on trans-Tasman routes is to end later this year amid changing "market dynamics".

Growing international trade and improved connectivity are lifting Australia into the ascendant among the general rise of the Pacific nations.

Subject to regulatory approvals, the new service will operate for a three month period between December 1, 2017 and February 28, 2018 and will complement Cathay Pacific’s current seasonal double daily flights to Auckland as well as strategic partner Air New Zealand’s daily service between Hong Kong and Auckland.

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.

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.

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.

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.