Air New Zealand and Air China are all set to ramp up the capacity between New Zealand and China. The two alliance partner airlines will add thousands of additional seats between Auckland and China's two main hubs, Beijing and Shanghai.
Air New Zealand is also upping the frequency of its Auckland-Shanghai flights by returning to daily service.
Leanne Geraghty, chief customer and sales officer, Air New Zealand said: “The resumption of Beijing flights and daily services to Shanghai were major milestones for the airline and New Zealand's tourism industry. We're thrilled to welcome our alliance partner Air China back to New Zealand and extend our Shanghai route to daily. China is a key market for us and the New Zealand tourism industry. The return of this route will help connect even more Chinese visitors with the amazing experiences New Zealand has to offer."
The services will deliver around 6,500 seats a week between Auckland and China and form part of the two airlines' strategic alliance. Before COVID-19, China was New Zealand’s second-largest international visitor market, attracting 450,000 travelers in 2019 with a visitor spend of around $927 million.
The strategic alliance gives ANZ customers access to Air China's network of more than 300 routes, including seamless connections to Europe and beyond. Customers of both airlines will get reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, including earning and spending loyalty points and lounge access.