Air New Zealand strengthens partnership with United Airlines

Air New Zealand welcomes today’s announcement by United Airlines that it will enter the New Zealand market, launching a San Francisco – Auckland service from July next year.

Auckland, New Zealand, 2015-10-9 — /Travel PR News/ — Air New Zealand and United Airlines have a longstanding partnership and in April this year signed a Statement of Intent to deepen and further define this alliance on routes between New Zealand and mainland USA.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon says United Airlines has supported Air New Zealand in launching its new Auckland – Houston service and today’s announcement is another important step in expanding the partnership, with the airlines working together to promote both carriers’ services between Auckland and San Francisco.

“The United States is New Zealand’s third largest tourism source market, contributing almost a billion dollars to our economy in the past financial year.  We know there are more than 30 million Americans actively considering New Zealand as a holiday destination. To have a partner carrier with a network like United Airlines promoting destination New Zealand and attracting visitors through its immense sales and distribution channels will provide a significant boost to inbound tourism,” Mr Luxon says.  “We look forward to working together with United to continue to build the links between New Zealand and the U.S.”

United Airlines Vice Chairman and Chief Revenue Officer Jim Compton says “We’re very excited to add Auckland to United’s industry-leading global route network.  In addition to direct service to San Francisco, our New Zealand customers will benefit from United’s expansive network across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America.”

“We have a long history of working together with our partners at Air New Zealand to provide customers with expansive travel options across and between the United States, New Zealand, and beyond.  With the launch of United’s new San Francisco service and Air New Zealand’s new Houston service, we are expanding our partnership, and bringing the benefit of even more service options to the traveling public,” said Mr Compton.

Subject to United Airlines obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals it will begin operating a three times weekly 787-8 service between San Francisco and Auckland from July, moving to daily services operated by a larger 787-9 aircraft from November 2016.

Air New Zealand currently operates a daily service from Auckland to San Francisco, 18 return services per week from Auckland to Los Angeles, four services per week to Vancouver and four services per week to Honolulu. From December 15 the airline will also commence direct services from Auckland to Houston five times per week.

About Star Alliance:
Air New Zealand is proud to be a member of Star Alliance. The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award and Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The member airlines are: Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Avianca in Brazil, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 18,500 daily flights to 1,330 airports in 192 countries.

For more information about Air New Zealand visit www.airnewzealand.com and for more information about Star Alliance visit www.staralliance.com and/or follow Star Alliance on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, LinkedIn or Instagram.

###