Air NZ to finally launch AKL-JFK - September 2022

[AviationNZ]

New AKL-JFK service starts in mid September, great to start to see more new route launches pop up again!

Air New Zealand begins non-stop New York flights on September 17

The 17-hour marathon flight is sure to be a big hit with travellers wanting a bite of the Big Apple.

www.executivetraveller.com

 

[twiningb]

Wasn't this going to be EWR? And then hand-off to UA to continue supporting AKL-x-LHR on NZ codes?

 

[AviationNZ]

Wasn't this going to be EWR? And then hand-off to UA to continue supporting AKL-x-LHR on NZ codes?

Yeap, was original meant to be EWR. My assumption for choosing JFK is the point to point traffic will represent more than the connecting traffic, especially for domestic east coast US when there are other more suitable connecting airports like ORD/IAH. I also wonder if most NZ to UK/EU traffic would choose to fly via Asia, or again, using ORD/IAH/YVR/LAX/SFO instead of NYC.

 

[HS-TQE]

More than likely the revenue from what's largely a O&D route may stack up more against what would be a hub to hub 'AKL to EWR' route otherwise.

NZ would still be able to hand off to UA at LAX or SFO or IAH for the few passengers still using the USA as a transit point to LHR, which wouldn't be that many considering the immigration procedures through US CBP for transit travellers regardless if where they are heading.

 

[Mattg]

More than likely the revenue from what's largely a O&D route may stack up more against what would be a hub to hub 'AKL to EWR' route otherwise.

NZ would still be able to hand off to UA at LAX or SFO or IAH for the few passengers still using the USA as a transit point to LHR, which wouldn't be that many considering the immigration procedures through US CBP for transit travellers regardless if where they are heading.

UA doesn't actually fly LAX-LHR.

Agree with you on the rest.

 

[justinbrett]

Yeap, was original meant to be EWR. My assumption for choosing JFK is the point to point traffic will represent more than the connecting traffic, especially for domestic east coast US when there are other more suitable connecting airports like ORD/IAH. I also wonder if most NZ to UK/EU traffic would choose to fly via Asia, or again, using ORD/IAH/YVR/LAX/SFO instead of NYC.

If going to Manhattan, it's splitting hairs between JFK and EWR (other than JFK being a much nicer airport). In fact public transport is a little quicker and easier from EWR.

I guess it's all about marketing because Newark doesn't have New York in its name.

 

[AviationNZ]

I guess it's all about marketing because Newark doesn't have New York in its name.

That may play a part, but the bigger reason would be the commercial return and route composition from O&D traffic vs connecting traffic, along with other factors like slot availability, etc.

 

[justinbrett]

That may play a part, but the bigger reason would be the commercial return and route composition from O&D traffic vs connecting traffic, along with other factors like slot availability, etc.

How does landing at JFK vs EWR increase return? It's two airports serving the same metro area. You can get off in EWR and stay in New York, that was my whole point. It's the same distance from Manhattan as JFK.

Slots are harder to get in JFK so I'm assuming NZ managed to score some and didn't want to pass them up. But I don't think this will make the route any more or less viable.

 

[AviationNZ]

How does landing at JFK vs EWR increase return? It's two airports serving the same metro area. You can get off in EWR and stay in New York, that was my whole point. It's the same distance from Manhattan as JFK.

Slots are harder to get in JFK so I'm assuming NZ managed to score some and didn't want to pass them up. But I don't think this will make the route any more or less viable.

It may be approx the same distance, but I personally find dealing with the bridges/tunnels to EWR adds time and cost if using taxi to get to Manhattan for example. I also prefer there's the subway option for JFK over EWR.

 

[justinbrett]

It may be approx the same distance, but I personally find dealing with the bridges/tunnels to EWR adds time and cost if using taxi to get to Manhattan for example. I also prefer there's the subway option for JFK over EWR.

So you’re trying to conflate your presences of airports with the commercial viability of the route? Righto….

 

[AviationNZ]

So you’re trying to conflate your presences of airports with the commercial viability of the route? Righto….

Well you're trying to suggest the choice of airport was based purely on 'marketing' and JFK having 'New York' in it's name Pretty certain there are a lot more considerations to setting up new routes with multi-million dollar impacts to profit/loss if you get it wrong!

My point was that they probably chose JFK because they expect to have more O&D traffic (which does to some degree support your 'marketing' theory), less domestic connections, and potentially more international connections, as well as possibly slots, landing fees, etc. The combination of those is what drove the decision, not simply 'marketing'.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Well you're trying to suggest the choice of airport was based purely on 'marketing' and JFK having 'New York' in it's name Pretty certain there are a lot more considerations to setting up new routes with multi-million dollar impacts to profit/loss if you get it wrong!

My point was that they probably chose JFK because they expect to have more O&D traffic (which does to some degree support your 'marketing' theory), less domestic connections, and potentially more international connections, as well as possibly slots, landing fees, etc. The combination of those is what drove the decision, not simply 'marketing'.

First flight AKL-JFK just left. Any AFFrs on it?

 

[jrfsp]

'I want to cry': Dozens of travellers get rude surprise after arriving in NZ on non-stop 17-hour flight

"We have nothing to wear, nobody is helping us, [we are] just doing administration on documents and we are a bit lost."

www.newshub.co.nz

 

[Zanzara]

'I want to cry': Dozens of travellers get rude surprise after arriving in NZ on non-stop 17-hour flight

"We have nothing to wear, nobody is helping us, [we are] just doing administration on documents and we are a bit lost."

www.newshub.co.nz

Looks like NZ are now resorting to mimicking QF's tactics... not a good start

 

[Redford01]

Rough start for Air NZ with their AKL-JFK route.

Not only did they not load a bunch of passengers luggage in order to get back to AKL from JFK, but they failed to inform passengers of the decision - so they all turned up in AKL to a rude surprise, despite Air NZ knowing at least an hour before flight take off that they were keeping luggage back at JFK. Worse, they had over 17 hours to prepare for passengers from a customer service point of view in AKL but basically nobody was on hand to help passengers with their queries, forwarding details etc. Passengers waited 40 mins at the carousel before going to baggage services to find out what had happened to their luggage, and then had to wait another hour as they tried to sort out the situation with an undermanned and unprepared Air NZ ground staff.

Bizarrely, the plane was delayed by 2 hours before leaving JFK due to control tower issues but arrived in AKL only 50 minutes late. Did they miscalculate the flight back to AKL ?

Travel experts are warning this could be common place as the Dreamliner is operating at maximum range. Luggage not being loaded or stop overs being implemented may continue to be applied when adverse weather conditions present on the way back from JFK.

Sounds like Air NZ have a bit of work to do.

 

[eric2011]

I think the re-invented 777's will be on this route, was speaking to someone in the know at AKL lounge last week

 

[encryptededdy]

Stuff

i.stuff.co.nz

Diverted to Fiji. Not a great start to this route. Perhaps they're pushing the 789's range a bit too far, especially considering weather over the Pacific.

 

[henrus]

Diverted to Fiji. Not a great start to this route. Perhaps they're pushing the 789's range a bit too far, especially considering weather over the Pacific.

The flight didn't ever seem to land in Fiji:

NZ1 (ANZ1) Air New Zealand Flight Tracking and History 22-Sep-2022 (KJFK-NAN / NFFN) - FlightAware

Track Air New Zealand (NZ) #1 flight from John F Kennedy Intl to Auckland

flightaware.com

Unsurprisingly it's poor journalism as the article should have been updated (they did put out a new article). They filled the flight plan to Fiji on the basis that initial calculation wouldn't make it to Auckland however once in-flight the weather was better than expected so they were able to refile to Auckland with no diversion to Nadi required.

Air NZ flight from New York touches down in Auckland after avoiding Fiji diversion

The flight was planned to stop in Nadi to refuel due to "unusually strong" winds, but crew were able to make different plans while in the sky.

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[QF WP]

Now their JFK/AKL service has had to offload 15 pax: Passengers now asked to get off Air New Zealand New York service

Be some pretty unhappy offloaded pax - wonder how they were selected (volunteers induced with or non-FF’s with cheap fares) and what they did for them?

 

[encryptededdy]

Now their JFK/AKL service has had to offload 15 pax: Passengers now asked to get off Air New Zealand New York service

Be some pretty unhappy offloaded pax - wonder how they were selected (volunteers induced with or non-FF’s with cheap fares) and what they did for them?

I think they're also further restricting capacity on NZ1 to 180, down from 215. I think that's about 100 empty seats on the 787-9.

As an aside, I have a friend of a friend who was to fly on NZ1 last Sunday, but supposedly she was told at check-in that the flight was cancelled (no it wasn't, but they did have to kick off some customers), and she was routed via. LAX instead. She did not recieve any compensation. However, I need to talk to them more to confirm the details before I make any claims, but New Zealand press reported that everyone bumped was compensated US$1500, which seems like it isn't the case here.