Air NZ to re-launch flights from Christchurch to Perth, Singapore and Tokyo
Today, Air New Zealand announced it will begin three new non-stop routes from Christchurch from later this year. All three of the new routes will be operated by the airlines wide body fleet of Boeing 787s.
Air New Zealand chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar announced the new routes alongside Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at tourism event TRENZ in Auckland on Wednesday.
The first Christchurch-Singapore service will depart on 28 October, followed by Christchurch-Narita on 28 November, and Christchurch-Perth on 30 November.
The new routes from Christchurch to Singapore, Tokyo and Perth are part of an agreement with Christchurch Airport to boost the South Island's international links.
Air New Zealand has previously flown all three of these routes. It most recently flew from Christchurch to Singapore in 2020, to Tokyo in 2015 and to Perth in 2019.
One of Air New Zealand’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners | Photo: Noah Stohr-Waldren
The flight to Singapore, NZ66 will depart Christchurch at 5:20pm and land at 10:55pm local time. The return service, NZ67 leaves Singapore at 12:40am and arrives back in the Garden City at 3:35pm.
NZ51 from Christchurch to Tokyo Narita will take off at 12:35pm arriving in Japan at 8:10pm. NZ52 back to Christchurch will leave at 9:40pm landing back at 12:50pm the next day.
NZ239 to Perth will take off at 5:45pm landing at 7:45pm. The return will depart at 9:15pm touching back down on home soil at 8:15am.
All three routes will be flown by Air New Zealand’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The new wide body expansion has been enabled by some Air New Zealand's 787 aircraft returning to service after being grounded due to global engine maintenance issues, as well as new 787 aircraft entering the fleet despite the airline reducing flights due to soaring jet fuel costs.
The airline expects all of their existing grounded 787s to be airworthy again by late June and all Airbus aircraft by next year.
All of the new routes will be operated by Air NZ’s 787s with more to be delivered very soon | Photo: Noah Stohr-Waldren
Air New Zealand chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar said "with aircraft returning to service, we're now in the fantastic position of being able to grow again, and we are delighted this is going to happen in the South Island.”
As New Zealand's national airline we think about connectivity at a country level - where we can help open up the greatest value and opportunities for customers, for regions, and for the economy. With aircraft returning to service, we're now in the fantastic position of being able to grow again, and we are delighted this is going to happen in the South Island," says Ravishankar.