Air New Zealand Will Launch One of World’s Longest Flights
Air New Zealand is launching a new flight that will be one of the longest in the world. Direct flights from New York to Auckland will kick off this fall, the first-ever direct flights from the East Coast to New Zealand. The new route comes as New Zealand has announced plans to reopen to U.S. tourists this May.
The launch was first announced in October 2019, but was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Air New Zealand currently offers service from Los Angeles International Airport. Flights from San Francisco International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu and O’Hare International Airport in Chicago are all set to restart later this year.
The new route with launch with the first flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to New Zealand’s Auckland International Airport on September 17th. The non-stop flight is expected to last for 17 hours and 35 minutes.
The route will be services by Boeing 787 Dreamliners which include 27 business class seats, 33 premium economy seats, 215 economy seats, and 13 economy Skycouches. The latter are three economy seats that convert into a lie-flat bed. The flights will be offered three times a week, on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
“The U.S. has always been a key market for us, and this new route cements our commitment to growing opportunities for tourism between the two countries,” Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran said in a statement. “In the six years leading up to COVID, the U.S. visitor numbers to New Zealand doubled so we expect our much-awaited non-stop service to be incredibly strong year-round.”
Customers in premium cabins will receive relaxing balms along with sleepy teas and snacks to help them fight jet lag. Air New Zealand will also launch “Zentertainment” on the inflight entertainment system to “encourage a restful sleep.”
At 17 hours and 35 minutes, the flight still doesn’t earn the title of the longest in the world. Singapore Airlines hold that record, with its New York to Singapore flight which takes 18 hours and 40 minutes.
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there was supposed to be a dfw to nz flight to be opened this year. do you know when that would open? i think it’s with AA.