Air New Zealand announces 11 new Trans Tasman Flights

Air New Zealand is to introduce 11 new flights per week between eastern Australia and New Zealand as part of its new schedule, effective from 29 October.

Many of the additional services to Auckland and Christchurch will be operated with brand new Airbus A320 twinjets, with the first of 15 delivered to the airline last week.

All flights will feature the new Tasman Express fare structure, with low fares, every day on every route, and all will include two class service, meals, and audio and video entertainment.

The biggest increase in flights is from Melbourne, where there will be six more services per week – four to Auckland and two to Christchurch. Flights will be operated by a mix of A320s and wide-bodied Boeing 767s.

Under the new schedule, Air New Zealand will provide three daily flights from Melbourne to Auckland every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and double daily flights each Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Melbourne also will gain two new flights to Christchurch, taking to nine the airline’s total weekly services on this route – a mix of A320s and Boeing 737s.

Sydney will gain three extra Air New Zealand flights to Christchurch, lifting the route total to 17 services per week – all with Airbus A320s .

There will be three Sydney – Christchurch flights every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and double-daily service on other days.

Brisbane – Christchurch flights will also increase from two Boeing 737-300s per week to four.

The 114-seat 737s will be progressively removed from trans Tasman services as Air New Zealand takes delivery of more A320s, each configured to seat 146 passengers in a two class cabin – a 28 per cent increase in seats per aircraft.

On the Sydney to Auckland route, Air New Zealand will continue to operate five flights every day except Saturday, which will have four services. Of the total 34 flights per week, 18 will be operated by A320s and 16 by wide-bodied Boeing 767-200s.

The Brisbane – Auckland route will have a daily Boeing 747-400 service, up from the current six 747s and one B737-300.

Perth will continue to have four nonstop Boeing 767-300 flights to Auckland each week, while Cairns will have two weekly 767 flights to Auckland.

There will also be 12 flights per week from Sydney to Wellington, daily flights from Melbourne to Wellington and one weekly Sydney – Queenstown service.