China Eastern to fly Sydney-Auckland

[elanshin]

Fifth freedom between SYD and AKL on MU?

China Eastern Expands Oceania Network in NW23 — AeroRoutes

Published at 0200GMT 28SEP23 China Eastern as of Wednesday 27SEP23 opened reservation for additional routes to Australia and New Zealand for Northern winter 2023/24 season, including previously announced service resumption on Shanghai – Brisbane route. Hangzhou – Auckland – Sydney – Hangzhou e

www.aeroroutes.com

Wonder what their pricing for SYD <> AKL would be like. If its not that expensive under QF codeshare might consider it given it'll be a better J than the 737s

 

[Mattg]

Just had a look - fares start around AUD262 one-way for SYD-AKL in Economy. Business is AUD893 one-way.

The flight timings look good and its an A330-200. Lie-flat seating in J.

It doesn't seem possible to book this on a QF codeshare, as far as I can tell.

 

[elanshin]

MU's A332 is probably not the greatest and a generation of planes back from the a359 that's currently on SYD <> PVG but given it's harder to find wide bodies to NZ, it'll be a nice change. Shame it won't be easy to earn QF status on them though.