Originally Posted by
cavemanzk
It looks like they are using an code two 789 - the IAH 789 doesn't have enough time for an return Tasman trip during NS18, therefore they are running it AKL-IAH-AKL-CHC-AKL-IAH etc.
SO why the 772 some days to make two wide bodies in a day?
Previously they have had Wide bodies sit at hard stands for the day or sent them along to the hanger for maintenance. A 789 would be very expensive for such a short flight has a lot of empty mass to carry a lot of fuel. In normal operations would be cheaper to offer the same number of seats on A320s which have a lower kg/seat. Back of the envelope the A320 is 250kg per seat and the 789 is 470kg per seat of zero mass, that is a lot more plane to get into the sky.
Sure can understand wide bodies when need to meet surge demand e.g. Rugby but day to day and reducing frequency doesn't lead me to feel that it is just a plane sitting at Auckland. To me an issue with the ATRs or similar is more likely as they are also changing the WLG-CHC flights to A320 and reducing frequency. So a lot of disruption to keep one plane flying rather than having just having it on a hard stand for a day. If they tow them down to the hanger AirNZ doesn't need to pay parking fees.