Originally Posted by
libertyuk
What I find is odd is that the new NZ schedule for AKL-HKG-AKL is similar to that of the AKL-HKG-LHR schedule, which means very late departure from AKL - early arrival in HKG, then an aircraft sitting in HKG all day until an early evening departure and late AM arrival in AKL.
This requires 2 777s rather than 1, which was the old operating pattern of an early PM departure, late PM arrival in HKG - 2 hour turnaround with an overnight back to AKL (which parallels the daily CX flight).
It's the same with their PVG route. The plane gets towed away from the gate after it has arrived and towed back before the flight back to AKL. The plane spends more than 7 hours in Shanghai. Wouldn't have PEK been a tag on much better? They would have achieved daily into PVG long ago but of course unless this was a slot issue.