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Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia have announced plans to operate twice weekly direct flights between Perth and Christchurch between December 2013 and late April 2014.
The flights, which will be operated by Air New Zealand 767-300ERs and codeshared by Virgin Australia, will depart Christchurch at 1540 and Perth at 1910 on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon announced the new service at the official opening this evening of Christchurch International Airport Limited’s new terminal facilities on April 18.
“We have been very pleased with the recovery we have seen on Christchurch routes in recent times and we expect traffic to continue to increase as a result of the new airport facilities,” said Virgin Australia chief commercial officer Judith Crompton. “Linking Christchurch with Perth, which has long had the highest growth rate of all Australian capital city airports, will provide an attractive service for business and leisure travellers alike.”
The two airlines say Christchurch and Perth are the two largest trans-Tasman destinations without a current direct service, and that direct Christchurch-Perth flights have not been operated in over 20 years.
Ben
says:I think this is great .It will be every day maybe
sheila dikshit
says:air new Zealand should be getting the boeing 787-9 to replace the boeing 767 and one day the boeing 787-9 might even replace the boeing 777-200 one time
Brian
says:Sounds good, pity it wasn’t available when we went to Chch in Mar 2013. Would go ANZ any day.
Tony
says:These flights (CHC – PER – CHC were always full when operated all those years ago. Could never understand why they closed the flights, apparently they wanted to open another sector & needed the aircraft!!!
Peter
says:Brilliant as long as ANZ don’t overprice the route with the monopoly. Over the uears I’ve alwaaus found it cheaper with Qantas through the Eastside cities
Sharleene Demmery-Moir
says:Fantastic, finally direct flights to Chch here’s hoping its something they keep running. In an emergency it takes so long and costs so much more at present to do these flights and usuallywit a huge stopper delay. Good on ANZ and Virgin for realising the demand.