Kiwis to quit Europe
From October next year, Air New Zealand will fly between Auckland and its alliance partner United Airlines' New York hub Newark Liberty International Airport three times weekly, year-round, using its latest configuration B787-9 aircraft. At the same time, the airline has also made the difficult decision to withdraw from its daily Los Angeles (USA)-London (UK) service, "a flagship route" launched in 1982.
Europe, including the UK, remains a significant sales region for Air New Zealand. Currently, more than two thirds of revenue generated by its London team is unrelated to the Atlantic route, and the airline will retain a sales, marketing and cargo presence in London to serve this important market, even after the cessation of its Los Angeles-London service. (ah)