Another NZ route to end

Hot on the heals of the announcement of the end of the HKG-LHR-HKG route, Air New Zealand subsidiary Eagle Air have announced the end of their CHC-WKA-CHC route from 30/01/13.

This ends a tumultuous period of service to Wanaka which began back in 2004, more recently the route has operated 6x weekly using NZ2011/17 on the CHC-WKA leg and NZ2010/14/18 on the return leg.

The Otago Daily Times has a small article HERE

Vale HKG-LHR-HKG NZ35/38

Air New Zealand have announced the end of their London - Hong Kong services NZ35/NZ38 effective 4 March 2013.

In a separate move which is part of Air New Zealand’s strategy to implement an alliance based network with a Pacific Rim focus, the airline has also formed a strategic agreement with Cathay Pacific on the Auckland – Hong Kong route.

Air New Zealand have announced that passengers booked on the HKG-LHR-HKG portion of NZ35/38 after 4/3/13 will be rebooked onto Cathay Pacific services.

Both Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific will continue their current schedule on AKL-HKG-AKL services.

Outgoing Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe has mentioned that the freed capacity will be redeployed into already announced additional North American services.

Read more from the Air New Zealand "blog" The Flying Social Network HERE

An unexpected briefing

In preparation for the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, & its world premier in Wellington, Air New Zealand the airline to middle earth, have released their next themed in flight safety video.  This one is obviously hobbit themed, and also features a cameo by Sir Peter Jackson.

Look out for it from now on, on Air New Zealand flights, and hold on for the release of Boeing 777-319ER ZK-OKP in a special hobbit livery.