Air New Zealand has been prompted to release its on-time performance figures for July and August “in the interests of transparency” after competitor Jetstar noted the “puzzling” absence of any punctuality data from the airline over the past two months. Jetstar head of New Zealand Grant Kerr says Air NZ stopped including OTP performance statistics
Virgin Australia has announced new codeshare routes with South African Airways (SAA) and Delta Air Lines. First, Virgin will add its VA airline code on South African Airways’ daily Perth-Johannesburg service, operated with Airbus A340-300 and A340-600 aircraft, from October 21. It builds on two carriers’ previously announced partnership, with SAA currently codesharing on Virgin’s
Air New Zealand will have a competitor between Auckland and Shanghai over summer with China Eastern set to start a seasonal service on the route from December. Shanghai-based China Eastern has announced a four times weekly Auckland-Shanghai service using Airbus A330 aircraft starting on December 9, which will increase to daily in January 2015. The
The world’s longest flight with the world’s largest passenger aircraft has landed at Dallas/Fort Worth airport. Qantas flight QF7 landed at DFW at 1326 local time on Monday, September 29, following a 15-hour, 15-minute journey from Sydney. The flight, operated by VH-OQL with a special livery on the tail featuring a hat and neckerchief on
Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon has defended the carrier’s pricing on regional routes and says fares on turboprop services will always be more expensive than jet-operated flights due to economies of scale. Luxon says Air NZ has the best regional network in the world, citing independent research which shows all towns with populations
Air New Zealand chairman Tony Carter says the Kiwi flag carrier is on track for profit growth in 2014/15 with bookings strong heading into summer. Carter told shareholders at Air NZ’s annual general meeting in Christchurch on Tuesday it had been an “encouraging start to the year with solid forward bookings into the high season”.
