Air NZ announces 3 new international routes ex CHC, PER, NRT & SIN

[markis10]

Air New Zealand has announced three new non-stop international flights from Christchurch to launch later this year.

The new routes from Christchurch to Singapore, Tokyo and Perth are part of an agreement with Christchurch Airport to boost the South Island's international connectivity.

Air New Zealand chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar announced the new routes alongside Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at tourism event TRENZ in Auckland on Wednesday.

The airline has been reducing flights due to soaring jet fuel costs, but it had flagged it would soon have more aircraft onboard after ongoing engine issues were resolved.

Air NZ announces three new non-stop international routes from Christchurch

The new services are part of a deal with Christchurch Airport to boost the South Island's links.

www.rnz.co.nz

 

[LionKing]

Air New Zealand has announced three new non-stop international flights from Christchurch to launch later this year.

The new routes from Christchurch to Singapore, Tokyo and Perth are part of an agreement with Christchurch Airport to boost the South Island's international connectivity.

Air New Zealand chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar announced the new routes alongside Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at tourism event TRENZ in Auckland on Wednesday.

The airline has been reducing flights due to soaring jet fuel costs, but it had flagged it would soon have more aircraft onboard after ongoing engine issues were resolved.

Air NZ announces three new non-stop international routes from Christchurch

The new services are part of a deal with Christchurch Airport to boost the South Island's links.

www.rnz.co.nz

I am concerned that the lack of international trasnfer facility at CHC will hamper the patronage of these routes.
Honestly, if NZ do have international-international transfer to CHC, and introduce SYD-CHC-SIN/NRT transfer, it would have been much more convenient for people on East Coast of Australia to go to Asia and earn Koru Status Points.

 

[Saab34]

PER-CHC competition heating up with Jetstar launching a month prior.

Air New Zealand appears to be Mon/Wed/Fri and a redeye in the Christchurch direction. Jetstar are running a daytime flight both ways from its Perth base.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Not sure CHC-PER can be described as a new route.
I flew that route on Air New Zealand in 2018.
Apparently it continued in 2019 then stopped because of COVID.
So it might be better described as a reinstated route.

 

[markis10]

Not sure CHC-PER can be described as a new route.
I flew that route on Air New Zealand in 2018.
Apparently it continued in 2019 then stopped because of COVID.
So it might be better described as a reinstated route.

None of them are real new routes as the airline states, the carrier last flew Christchurch-Singapore in 2020, Christchurch-Perth in 2019, and Christchurch-Narita in 2015 before each route was withdrawn.

 

[Saab34]

I feel like ANZ needs a Euro connection of some sort.

Is it possible for them to fly Asia into Europe with current rights etc?

 

[Mwenenzi]

I feel like ANZ needs a Euro connection of some sort.
Is it possible for them to fly Asia into Europe with current rights etc?

Air NZ do not have enough aircraft, with serviceable engines, for the routes they fly_advertise now.
LHR has been put on hold (again)

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

NZ could do LHR via HKG from memory

 

[dajop]

NZ could do LHR via HKG from memory

At one point they flew LHR via both LAX and HKG.

Today it is just codeshares out of SIN on SQ flights to Europe. Which is probably part of the reason the CHC-SIN service makes a lot of sense. (and I think UA and LH flights to Europe from some ports).

 

[PERLHR]

Think the Perth flight is "supported by the labour govt"...so suspect ANZ have some incentives provided!

 

[Saab34]

Think the Perth flight is "supported by the labour govt"...so suspect ANZ have some incentives provided!

You would think so with the low cost competitor also launching on the route. Not the first route I would be jumping at.

Not sure if both can last on the route, sounds like ANZ is more tied to incentives and deals so probably JQ will be the loser on the route.

 

[PERLHR]

You would think so with the low cost competitor also launching on the route. Not the first route I would be jumping at.

Not sure if both can last on the route, sounds like ANZ is more tied to incentives and deals so probably JQ will be the loser on the route.

Quite handy though if the ANZ flight is code shared with VA. I quite like CHC.

 

[LionKing]

I know everyone is laughing at me at the moment to have international transit facility at CHC, yet regrettably if you can spend 60% less on Business Class to HKG from CHC than from SYD, and also earn 140 SC instead of 60 SC, I don't think I wanted to waste money to fly from SYD direct.

 

[dajop]

I know everyone is laughing at me at the moment to have international transit facility at CHC, yet regrettably if you can spend 60% less on Business Class to HKG from CHC than from SYD, and also earn 140 SC instead of 60 SC, I don't think I wanted to waste money to fly from SYD direct.

I don't think anyone is laughing at you for wanting to fly the long way around to get extra status credits - that is the core currency of AFF.

What is funny is the expectation that an airport literally at the end of the world (in terms of international airports) have an international transit facility to help with a SC run! The alternative is of course to go landside, if timing permits.

Having said that, I once did KIX-CHC-AKL on a single flight on NZ, and we did transit international-international to stay on the same plane.