Air NZ renews Cook Is arrangement

Air New Zealand will continue to operate non-stop services to Rarotonga from Los Angeles and Sydney until 2018.

Air New Zealand has extended its agreement with the Cook Islands government to operate non-stop services from Rarotonga to Los Angeles and to Sydney, firming up the November 2013 that the airline was the preferred bidder for the services.

The airline has operated the services since 2007 and 2010 respectively, and has extended the arrangement for a further four years from late this year.

“The agreements ensure that visitors from both the Northern Hemisphere and Australia have convenient travel options that allow them to experience this island paradise in person,” Air New Zealand Manager Pacific Islands Peter Walsh said in a statement, “We are honoured to renew these two four year agreements to operate to Los Angeles and Sydney from Rarotonga.”

Air New Zealand says it carried about 200,000 people to Rarotonga from Auckland, Sydney and Los Angeles in 2013.