As Qantas retreats.. from the news clips today
Air New Zealand plans to boost its service on North American routes next year, using aircraft capacity freed up by Boeing 787 deliveries.
The carrier will add a seasonal third daily flight to its Auckland-Los Angeles route, flying Boeing 777-200ERs. The arrival of 787-9s and their introduction on existing routes gives Air New Zealand flexibility to increase frequencies or add new routes with its other aircraft types.
The airline typically operates newer 777-300ERs on its Los Angeles flights, although the -200ERs are undergoing a refurbishment program to give them a similar cabin product.
The third daily Los Angeles flight will be operated between April and October, increasing capacity on the route by 20%. Air New Zealand is also increasing its seasonal flights on its Vancouver route, which will boost capacity by 10%.
Meanwhile, the carrier has retired its last 747-400. Its final flight departed San Francisco for Auckland Sept. 10. This aircraft has been sold to a company that intends to lease it out to another airline customer, Air New Zealand says.
The carrier’s 747-400 fleet numbered eight aircraft at one point. The second-to-last aircraft left the fleet on July 16, and was sold to a California-based buyer. The final two 747-400s were used on the San Francisco route, and have been replaced by two leased 777-300ERs.