Air New Zealand Airbus A320's commence Australia flights

Air New Zealand has launched the first of 15 new Airbus A320 twinjets on trans-Tasman services, with flights commencing this week between Sydney and Auckland.

The Airbus aircraft will be introduced progressively on a range of Tasman Express services, initially linking Sydney and Melbourne with Auckland and Christchurch.

They will replace a mix of smaller Boeing 737-300s and larger Boeing 767-200s, and will increasingly be used on other trans-Tasman routes, including from Eastern Australia to Wellington and Queenstown.

"The A320 brings a new standard of service to our trans-Tasman operations," said Air New Zealand's Vice President Australia, Mr Paul Donovan.

"As well as providing a very comfortable ride with all-leather covered seats and spacious legroom throughout, our A320s seat 146 passengers in a two class cabin. We are also increasing our flight frequency, therefore providing greater choice for both business and leisure travellers."

The Business Class cabin features eight seats, with a spacious 42-inch seat pitch (the space between one seat and the same point on the next seat) providing plenty of legroom. Each Business Class seat is a comfortable 20.9 inches wide with a seven inch recline, an extending legrest and a fully adjustable headrest.

For passengers wanting to work on board, each Business Class seat features a laptop power connection, and accepts most power plugs without the need for an adaptor.

And for those Business Class passengers preferring to relax, there are 10 audio channels, a portable DVD player with a nine inch screen, and an on board library of 15 DVD cassettes, updated bi monthly.

In Pacific Class there are 138 leather-covered seats, configured in a 3 x 3 layout. Each seat is 17.9 inches wide with a five inch recline and a comfortable 32 inch seat pitch.

As in Business Class, there are 10 audio entertainment channels, plus fold down video screens every three seats and two main cabin screens on the forward bulkhead.

The whole aircraft also features large overhead storage compartments, developed to fit American style 22 inch roller bags.

The new Airbus aircraft typically cruise at 830 km/h, over a range of up to 3,850 kilometres at maximum payload.

The first two have now been delivered, and another five are due by mid 2004 - all mainly committed to trans-Tasman operations. A further eight will be introduced progressively by early 2006.