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Air NZ and Virgin repeat Christchurch/Perth seasonal offering

written by australianaviation.com.au | March 13, 2014
A file image of an Air New Zealand 767.
A file image of an Air New Zealand 767.

Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia plan to once again operate seasonal non-stop flights between Christchurch and Perth beginning later this year, following the success of this summer’s inaugural service.

This second direct seasonal service, which will use the Boeing 767, is set to operate twice a week from December 13 until April 25 next year, Air New Zealand chief executive officer Christopher Luxon announced on Wednesday in Christchurch.

“In this coming season we will offer more than 17,000 seats directly linking the two regions, and we expect the flights to be popular once again with both leisure and business travellers,” he said.

The inaugural season of Christchurch/Perth flights ends in late April this year.

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Comments (9)

  • Marc

    says:

    Air NZ are kicking goals at the moment.

  • Brendan

    says:

    Yeah they are, there even getting heavy maintenance work from Qantas.
    Well done Alan Joyce

  • Leighton

    says:

    Once upon a time, Qantas ruled the Pacific, with only United as it’s contender. It flew to several European cities and all over Asia. It was a profitable and proud airline!
    Then came “competition”, “open skies” and “low cost”.
    Now Qantas has to compete with half a dozen airlines across the Pacific, low cost airlines everywhere and government owned Middle Eastern juggernauts. (Emirates and Etihad). Qantas should have half the market from China but instead has to compete with half a dozen airlines from there.
    What happened to recipricol rights. Qantas is being squeezed out of every market by many cashed up govt owned airlines or lccs with multi daily frequencies.
    That’s why Air New Zealand is doing so well…the competition isn’t there! Protect your market New Zealand, for soon the only competition in Australia will be between Emirates and Etihad!

  • Marc

    says:

    Leighton, your argument doesn’t make sense. Air NZ is competing with the same airlines as Qantas, albeit on a smaller scale for a smaller market. All the major Asian carriers plus Emirates fly to NZ. The difference is greedy unions and poor management. Simple.

  • Tyron

    says:

    NZ has the same open skies agreement with the UAE as Australia does… The Tasman is one of the most competitive markets in the world and QF/EK now have something like 65% of the capacity on these routes… it’s the quality of the Air NZ which is driving its success, the staff and management team are invigorated, pushing the boundaries… Customer focussed..

  • Leighton

    says:

    All I’m saying is the competition is too great and our skies too liberal for Qantas to ever be profitable again, no matter who is at the helm!

  • Garry Ellis

    says:

    Tyron you hit the nail on the head, well said. Qantas management and staff could take a good look at how things are run correctly by looking into the Air New Zealand way of doing things. Eliminate greedy management practices and Qantas will once again be up there as one of the worlds best airlines.

  • John A gates

    says:

    It is the spin of the crew dice for Qantas travellers. Some flight crews still are marvellous, as good as the best Air New Zealand crews. Others treat the economy passengers as a hiccup they have to put up with. Firstly they have to want a job and be in teams of enthusiastic people. They are not doing it for free. Garry says greedy management, what about the union bovver boys. Their rhetoric reminds one of Peter Sellers quote, wot! about the werker, wot! about the werker indeed.

  • B G Price

    says:

    As I have said previously, ANZ are doing it right, they have all their ducks in a row thanks to previous CEO Rob Fyfe and the continuing efforts of Chris Luxton and his team

    we need Rob Fyfe for QF he is apparently “between engagements”

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