Rumour NZ to launch announce new US destination ?

[kiwiandrew]

OK, first off, let me admit that the NZ Herald is a rubbish news source, however,

Air NZ set to announce new US destination - Business - NZ Herald News (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11365415)

"Air New Zealand is poised to make a decision to fly to a new destination in the United States.

It is understood Las Vegas, Houston and Chicago are under active consideration and the airline could be flying to one of these cities within the next 12 months."

Of the three, IAH would seem to be the most likely ( to me) . LAS is low yield and easily reached from the existing SFO/LAX gateways, and ORD just seems a bit too far and not offer as many connections as IAH would .

Anyway, I guess time will tell whether there is any truth to this or whether the Herald hacks ( ooops, "reporters" ) have had a few too many drinks.

[dragon man]

A good move. If QF wasn't so inept IMO they would do Perth Auckland Dallas with the 747. At present they have lost Perth USA to ANZ with the service to Auckland but I think an Auckland Dallas would be a winner.

[tartare]

Been planned since the day they signed the 78 order.
Saw many studies with payload range circles drawn in my day.
Lots of questions and study around Latin America too.
This will be ORD or IAH/DFW I reckon.
Would be v. surprised if it was Vegas.

[belowMDA]

From a personal perspective, 789 and ORD would be great. However the 772 and IAH are the more likely combination. Four 772 have just been modified or are about to modified to 240 EDTO which would help it do this route as close to the GC track as possible. Air NZ are on record that the current config in the 789 won't do North America well. I suspect that at least two of the aircraft arriving next year will be a lower density/more premium targeted at doing Vancouver daily. This may well free up the 772 capacity to do a fourth North America destination.
My two cents worth anyway....

[moutere101]

I believe a new 789 cabin layout is possible on frames 7 through 10.

[Sump Monkey]

So Buenos Aires was the new route all along, no one from Air NZ was on record talking about North America.

Cheaper South American airfares on the cards | Stuff.co.nz (http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/64073364/Air-New-Zealand-to-fly-to-Buenos-Aires)

[minimum_wage]

Negative, apparently the US destination is still to be announced. Chicago, Las Vegas or San Diego are the latest favourites.

[Bluewater777]

A betting man would put his money on Chicago? Any new destination is positive for ANZ. B

[lotsta]

It will be Chicago with the 789.

[kaikohe76]

My new routes,

Kaitaia, Whakatane, Westport!!!

[AQIS Boigu]

ORD is a no brainer...it's the biggest Star Alliance hub...

[moutere101]

It will be a city that needs EDTO>180 for the 77E. This counts out ORD, the 77E does not have the legs.

[billyt]

Having the legs and EDTO<180 are two different things.

NZ already have 2 772's cleared for EDTO240 ops.