Air New Zealand Air Points - New NZ Long Haul destinations

.....now what is this rumour circulating that NZ will commence two new Long Haul destinations next year sometime???????

I read about that too, apparently one is almost sure (and TBA soon http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif) and the other is still being worked on. I'm really interested to hear what they may be... obviously LHR-HKG would be the stunner, but won't happen as these are apparently new routes out of AKL. My guesses would be SFO, BKK, ICN or PEK. AKL-LAX-MUC would also be a fantastic route with European connections equal to Frankfurt (plus I happen to live there off and on http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif), but with only 8 (or 9) 744s it won't happen. Anyway, at least one of the new routes is going to be announced soon so at least we won't have to speculate for too long.

Cheers, Zac

I know that I am being hopeful but it would be so convenient for NZ to start up a direct BNE-LAX or SFO service .
If they did,I wonder how many days 'til Qantas cries foul or they are going broke again or it is anticompetitive??
I suspect that one airline could make a go at a daily BNE-LAX or SFO service given the lack of premium paying pax and cargo.
No doubt,QF would start up a similar service in the ensuring weeks just to make the other airlines return unacceptable.
It seems that QF have decided that Sydney is the only destination in Australia for foreign travellers!
Ozflier

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ozflier:
I know that I am being hopeful but it would be so convenient for NZ to start up a direct BNE-LAX or SFO service .
If they did,I wonder how many days 'til Qantas cries foul or they are going broke again or it is anticompetitive??
I suspect that one airline could make a go at a daily BNE-LAX or SFO service given the lack of premium paying pax and cargo.
No doubt,QF would start up a similar service in the ensuring weeks just to make the other airlines return unacceptable.
It seems that QF have decided that Sydney is the only destination in Australia for foreign travellers!
Ozflier</font>

I'm no fan of The Rat, but in their defence on this particular issue, they *did* indeed do a detailed study on BNE-LAX nonstops earlier this year. More importantly the Qld Govt and Qld Tourism Bureau as well as other related bodies were also 100% particpants in the process. All parties agreed there was no viable option to run such a service up to the medium term future. For the historically self promoting Qld Govt to come to a conclusion that such a service is not viable speaks volumes.
There is just no major yield to sustain such a routing for any of the more mainstream carriers. (A new LCC like Pacific Blue is a different matter I'd suspect!!).
One also suspects that if MEL was tagged onto it, then yeah, it'd be a goer, but that won't happen now that MEL has it's own nonstop, and there is no other city that is a viable tag to BNE to make it worthwhile either.

We must also remember NZ tried to use BNE in the past as it's AU base for the then new beyond rights and couldn't make a go of it. At the time, they picked the best option - BNE to Asia ports and it still wouldn't work.
UA have tried to tag BNE onto one of their SYD flights in the past, but it didn't last long, unlike the MEL tag which seems to be doing okay.

Al B,Thank you for that explanation of the issues.It puts things better into perspective.
Ozflier

Airnzboy, anything you can tell us?

We are waiting with baited breath!!!!!

I'd be hung drawn and quartered if I revealed anything! But I guess I can tell you yes, at least two new long-haul routes are in the planning states - at least one of them should be announced soon as it seems to be a definite goer, with flights commencing around about July. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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All my posts are my own personal opinions and experiences and in no way represent the opinon of my employer.

[This message has been edited by airnzboy (edited Jan 05, 2004).]

MrSydney, please forgive me in advance for my word-related pedantry but the correct word is actually "bated breath". This is a shortened form of "abated" or "suspended" i.e. holding one's breath in anticipation.

airnzboy, that sounds great but can you please hurry along those folk in the ivory tower a bit? We're getting impatient - it's been way too long since NZ announced a new international route (am I right in thinking that ZQN-BNE was the last new international route on NZ metal?).

I too am dying to know what Air NZ has in the pipeline...

I would say South America is definitely not a starter, as the market is too thin and LanChile seems to be sewing it up with heavy loads out of Auckland. AR does not seem to be doing quite so well, though the Argentine market is improving.

SFO makes some sense now that UA does not fly to Auckland, as NZ could hook into all the UA flights there (more options than in LAX).

I wonder if LAX-MAN is a possibility? It is such a hassle getting to the north of the UK with the medieval facilities at Heathrow. I think a 763 could just about manage that sector.

My picks would have been Seoul, except I heard a rumour that NZ is going to code-share with Asiana. So, what about SHA or PEK? Would that mean NZ would have to drop its TPE flights??

NZ found BKK a difficult market some years ago, so I can't see them returning.

Closer to home, ADL might be an option. QF flew ADL-AKL once a week with a 747 (no less!) some years ago, but that didn't last long.

Any thoughts on the above from anyone??

Cheers! ID

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Waihi49:
I would say South America is definitely not a starter</font>

That was the one I hoped it would be. On a *RTW there is no way to cross the Pacific than to go to via the US. Really annoying if you want to go from AKL to GIG (e.g.) and have a 24 hour transfer in LAX and countless hours of useless flight as well as plenty of wasted miles.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mad_atta:
[b]MrSydney, please forgive me in advance for my word-related pedantry but the correct word is actually "bated breath". This is a shortened form of "abated" or "suspended" i.e. holding one's breath in anticipation.

You are forgiven. I was actually wondering about the spelling when I typed it. Must be that fancy NZ education I had. LOL!!!


I don't think AirNZboy is high enough in the food chain at NZ to have much influence when the announcement will be made. Also, we don't want to place his job in jeopardy!!!!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MrSydney:
I don't think AirNZboy is high enough in the food chain at NZ to have much influence when the announcement will be made. Also, we don't want to place his job in jeopardy!!!!</font>

Are you kidding? I have it on good authority that 'airnzboy' is just Ralph Norris's FT handle! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">posted by MrSydney:I don't think AirNZboy is high enough in the food chain at NZ to have much influence</font>

He's high enough for me http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif