Air New Zealand axes London flights in favour of New York in 2020
After 36 years; nearly as long as the airline has been active, Air New Zealand has announced that the flagship route, New Zealand flight 1 & 2, will no longer terminate at London Heathrow Airport. Instead Air New Zealand has opted for the flight to end at Newark Liberty Airport in New York via non-stop flight while also retaining the same flight number.
The changes were announced this Wednesday (the 23rd of October) to be put in effect in October 2020. This is the first significant action on Jeff McDowall's behalf as acting CEO of the company, entering office in late September.
The decision was made due to market changes since the flagship route's inception, figures saying less than 7% of travellers from New Zealand to London fly the route via Los Angeles.
Due to this decision 130 staff will be laid off when services cease.
Air New Zealand has heavily hinted at plans for New York flights in the past, even stating so in some official reports as an expansion goal.
Flights to New York will operate three days weekly with 'configuration two' 787 Dreamliner aircraft currently used on Chicago services, the longest non-stop route Air New Zealand operates at present.
Flights will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, lasting 15 hours 40 minutes from Auckland to New York and 17 hours 40 minutes from New York to Auckland, with movements at Auckland scheduled at similar times to Air New Zealand's other America flights; departures scheduled at 7:55pm and arrivals at 6:35am.
Customers will be able to transfer to London in the future via codeshare flights with United Airlines departing Air New Zealand's destinations in the United States, including Newark from October.
Sources:
The changes were announced this Wednesday (the 23rd of October) to be put in effect in October 2020. This is the first significant action on Jeff McDowall's behalf as acting CEO of the company, entering office in late September.
The decision was made due to market changes since the flagship route's inception, figures saying less than 7% of travellers from New Zealand to London fly the route via Los Angeles.
Due to this decision 130 staff will be laid off when services cease.
Air New Zealand has heavily hinted at plans for New York flights in the past, even stating so in some official reports as an expansion goal.
Flights to New York will operate three days weekly with 'configuration two' 787 Dreamliner aircraft currently used on Chicago services, the longest non-stop route Air New Zealand operates at present.
Flights will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, lasting 15 hours 40 minutes from Auckland to New York and 17 hours 40 minutes from New York to Auckland, with movements at Auckland scheduled at similar times to Air New Zealand's other America flights; departures scheduled at 7:55pm and arrivals at 6:35am.
Customers will be able to transfer to London in the future via codeshare flights with United Airlines departing Air New Zealand's destinations in the United States, including Newark from October.
Sources:
- New Zealand Herald
- Newshub
- United Airlines
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| Air New Zealand 787 in Auckland (Photo: Biponacci) |
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