Air NZ commences seasonal Bali route from June

[haydensydney]

Travel | Bali aded to Air New Zealand's direct destinations... | Stuff.co.nz

Air New Zealand will start flying direct to the popular holiday spot Bali from Auckland twice a week during the June to October high season.
The service using a Boeing 767-300 has the potential to operate year round if there’s sufficient demand, the airline says.

Good news for Kiwis and Aussies.

May offer good availability for point redemptions. One could fly SYD-AKL-DPS-AKL-SYD in J (with a stopover in AKL for good measure) for 90k Kris points.

 

[Justchecking]

I wonder if they're planning to return to Thailand anytime soon? I'm surprised Bali is still a hot holiday destination. Prices are getting pretty high there now.

 

[docjames]

I'm surprised it's not AKL-CNS-DPS or AKL-BNE-DPS in a A320.....

 

[StevePER]

I don't know why anyone living so close to the Pacific islands would want to go to Bali. But I guess the grass is always greener...

 

[Globetrotter]

I'm surprised it's not AKL-CNS-DPS or AKL-BNE-DPS in a A320.....

I agree! It might also help NZ fill the aircraft.

 

[IGetAround]

Flight times have recently been released:

[LEFT][COLOR=#444444][FONT=liberation-sans-1]NZ245 AKL2350 – 0520+1DPS 763 26[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#444444][FONT=liberation-sans-1]NZ246 DPS0725 – 1925AKL 763 37[/FONT][/COLOR][/LEFT]

For those interested, I have completed an analysis of the new route from a network planning perspective here:

Air NZ enters the Bali fray « I like to get around

The midnight departure out of AKL is highly unconventional as it results in a 5AM turnaround in DPS. Typically Australia to Bali flights are daylight, with an evening turnaround in DPS and a redeye back to Australia; NZ also follows this approach in scheduling their Hawaii flights. Perhaps it has something to do with aircraft utilisation.

I agree! It might also help NZ fill the aircraft.

Stopping in Australia would definitely help yields. As a general observation, Australia - Bali fares are not too far off to NZ-Bali fares, so NZ would be well placed selling some seats across the ditch and then continuing the aircraft to Bali with higher yielding Australian traffic.

 

[markis10]

NZ don't have the rights to Australia DPS, and it might upset DJ who do!

 

[IGetAround]

NZ don't have the rights to Australia DPS, and it might upset DJ who do!

I may be wrong, but I was under the impression that any NZ carrier had unlimited fifth freedom rights beyond Australia under the Single Aviation Market agreement. At least, this is what Anthony Albanese said: United States – Australia Relations

AFAIK, the right to fly into DPS would also be governed by either Aus-Indonesia and/or NZ-Indonesia agreements. VA wouldn't be too happy about it though.

I suppose I was more trying to illlustrate that an NZ -Australia - Asia leg during peak season may be more profitable than NZ - Bali. Something like MEL-HKT given the capacity shortfall left by Air Australia's collapse.

 

[markis10]

I may be wrong, but I was under the impression that any NZ carrier had unlimited fifth freedom rights beyond Australia under the Single Aviation Market agreement. At least, this is what Anthony Albanese said: United States – Australia Relations

AFAIK, the right to fly into DPS would also be governed by either Aus-Indonesia and/or NZ-Indonesia agreements. VA wouldn't be too happy about it though.

I suppose I was more trying to illlustrate that an NZ -Australia - Asia leg during peak season may be more profitable than NZ - Bali. Something like MEL-HKT given the capacity shortfall left by Air Australia's collapse.

Any 5th freedom rights would not be applicable in this case , as NZ and Australia are considered a single market with a NZ carrier having access to the same rights as an Australian carrier, both of which need to get rights granted in accordance with the Australian Indonesian air treaty.