AUCKLAND- Air New Zealand (NZ) has announced its capacity and network updates for the upcoming summer season. Two routes will be reintroduced, while another will remain on hold for an extended period. Additionally, there will be increased capacity in key markets.
Following a hiatus during the New Zealand winter, the airline will resume flights to Hobart (HBA) and Seoul (ICN) in October 2024. The Auckland (AKL) to Hobart and Auckland to Seoul routes will operate as seasonal services, with Air New Zealand offering three direct flights per week to each destination from October to March.
Air New Zealand Summer Schedule Updates
The flag carrier of New Zealand will enhance its capacity on vital Asian routes. Singapore, Tokyo, and Taipei will all experience an increase in available seats between November 2024 and March 2025 due to the introduction of the larger Boeing 777-300 aircraft. This expansion includes more premium seats, providing customers with more opportunities to travel comfortably with extra space.
The 777-300 aircraft boasts a 30 percent increase in cargo capacity compared to the 787 aircraft it replaces. This enhancement will offer a valuable opportunity for exporters targeting these markets and beyond.
Despite Air New Zealand’s efforts to resume routes and augment capacity, ongoing engine challenges have compelled the airline to prolong the suspension of its Chicago (ORD) service, which was slated to recommence from October 2024.
Delays in Restarting Chicago Flights
Scott Carr, General Manager Long Haul at Air New Zealand, acknowledges this decision was difficult. However, it enables the airline to prioritize the resumption of services to key destinations within its network and assure customers of travel arrangements on other routes.
“Regrettably, ongoing challenges related to the availability of Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engines for our 787-9 aircraft have prevented us from resuming our Chicago route in October as anticipated. We plan to resume service to Chicago upon receiving our new 787 aircraft from Boeing, which we expect in the second half of 2025.”
“In the coming days, our teams will directly contact customers with bookings on our Chicago route for October to discuss their options. This proactive outreach aims to alleviate customers’ need to contact us. Those who made bookings through a travel agent should coordinate with their agent to confirm any changes to their itinerary.”
“While we understand that this announcement of an extended pause may be disappointing for customers with travel plans to Chicago, numerous alternative options remain to reach the city via a stopover in another U.S. port.”
Capacity Increase
Scott further added, “Our premium cabins remain highly sought-after by travelers to and from destinations such as Singapore, Tokyo, and Taipei. Therefore, we’re thrilled to announce increased capacity starting in November, providing these customers more options to secure their travel plans.
“We are dedicated to facilitating connections between New Zealand and the rest of the world, and these adjustments to our schedule enable us to uphold that commitment.”
Capacity enhancements for Asia between November 2024 and March 2025 include*:
- Tokyo: An additional 30,000 seats, predominantly in Business Premier and Premium Economy.
- Singapore: An extra 20,000 seats, with 11,000 allocated to Business Premier and Premium Economy.
- Taipei: 5,000 more seats in Business Premier and Premium Economy.
*These capacity increases are compared to the same period of the previous year (November 2023 – March 2024).
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