Air New Zealand to go daily to Shanghai

Following a review of current services into China – Air New Zealand has determined that this expansion will best be achieved by consolidating services into Shanghai and serving Beijing as a one-stop destination in conjunction with Star Alliance code-share partner Air China. 

The airline will add a fifth weekly service to Shanghai from July 4 as it focuses it efforts on continuing to build this natural gateway between New Zealand and China. 

Air New Zealand’s Group General Manager International Airline, Christopher Luxon, says, “We’re confident of the potential for long term growth from one of China’s most modern and populous cities.” 

Air New Zealand will suspend the twice weekly direct Auckland – Beijing service from 30 June 2012 as it concentrates on growing the Shanghai service. Mr Luxon says Air New Zealand still considers Beijing to be an important and growing market and the Air China code share arrangement provides convenient connections between Shanghai and Beijing in both directions. 

“Air New Zealand has been operating to mainland China for more than five years and is highly committed to the potential of the market long term. We’ve just appointed the first ever head of our Asia operations, Sandeep Bahl, who is a highly experienced airline executive in the region. Sandeep took up his new role in our Shanghai office at the beginning of the month. 

“Under his guidance we will focus our marketing and sales resources on the Shanghai region of around 14 million people as we seek to provide customers a daily service to and from this important gateway in China.” 

Air New Zealand first began flying to Shanghai in 2006. 

Source: Air New Zealand