Air New Zealand launches non-stop service between Auckland and New York

Air New Zealand is accelerating its ambitions for North America and will launch a non-stop service between Auckland and New York using its 787-9 Dreamliner in October 2020.

READ MORE: Air New Zealand welcomes service from Auckland to Chicago

The news comes following the airline's decision to withdraw from its daily Los Angeles-London service from October 2020. Now, Canadians living in Ontario or Quebec can easily fly to New York first, as opposed to departing out of Vancouver International Airport.

"Visitor growth to New Zealand is strongest from North America and performance of our new service to Chicago is exceeding expectations," said Air New Zealand acting CEO Jeff McDowall. "New York has been an aspiration for Air New Zealand for some time and withdrawal from the Atlantic will free up aircraft capacity to make this milestone a reality."

Air New Zealand will fly between Auckland and its alliance partner United Airlines' New York hub Newark Liberty International Airport three times weekly, year-round, using its latest configuration Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The flight time is 15hr 40m northbound and 17hr 40m southbound. The 14,178km route will be Air New Zealand’s longest flight, and fifth longest in the world by distance.

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