NZ to fly AKL/DEN

[BNEA320]

rumour that decision has been made & NZ will fly AKL/DEN later this year after backing from Colorado ski resorts & DIA.

Makes perfect sense, as more skiers go to Colorado than Canada, every December/January.

[troppo]

rumour that decision has been made & NZ will fly AKL/DEN later this year after backing from Colorado ski resorts & DIA.

Makes perfect sense, as more skiers go to Colorado than Canada, every December/January.

On top of the skiing...
Denver is a major UA hub.
NZ/UA Alliance.
You bypass LAX which is a traveling public nightmare.
Denver has good access to Europe and Central America.
You stick one in QF

[Sfopilot207]

I also have heard that ORD and EWR are possible destinations. A bit of a stretch but nothing the 777 or 787 can't do .

[RubberDogPoop]

Not unless they’re getting more frames??? (I imagine the 2 deliveries for the year will be accounted for in the Taipei route?)

[tail wheel]

Or because of competition (https://www.pprune.org/australia-new-zealand-pacific/606038-ek-auckland-bali.html)?? :E

[ElZilcho]

We're looking for a 772 replacement at the moment, but with no firm orders that's a few years away. Could be some expansion in there for new routes.

Can't recall how many 789 options we have. Need to get the engines sorted on the existing fleet anyway.

ORD & JFK have been hinted about to the media, but like QANTAS talks of SYD - LHR, I'd say it's more of a "vision" rather than a pending announcement.

[RubberDogPoop]

Have we got our bets in? D-day is closing fast....

[RubberDogPoop]

Well it’s not Denver....

[SeenItAll]

KDEN is 5433 feet in altitude. AKL is 7352 sm away. This could be a stretch on the DEN-AKL return -- and no good diversion points as you approach NZ. While winter weather in Colorado could help things, my guess is that even a 789 will use up a very large part of KDEN's longest runway -- which is16,000 feet.

[Chris2303]

Need to change the title: for DEN read ORD