Cathay Pacific and Air New Zealand to extend partnership

SEP 8, 2015: Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific welcome the decision by the minister of transport Hon Simon Bridges to re-authorise the airlines’ strategic agreement on the Auckland – Hong Kong route until 31 October 2019.

The strategic agreement has been operating since January 2013 and has already delivered a range of benefits to customers travelling between New Zealand and Hong Kong including the choice of up to three frequencies per day, reciprocal frequent flyer benefits and enhanced connectivity to and from both carriers’ networks.

Air New Zealand chief executive officer Christopher Luxon says the cooperation with Cathay Pacific plays an important part in the airline’s Pacific Rim strategy.

“This agreement has not only let Air New Zealand broaden its offering to customers between New Zealand and Hong Kong but has also allowed us to offer our customers excellent access to destinations throughout China and North Asia on Cathay Pacific and its sister airline Dragonair. In turn our agreement has also allowed us to stimulate inbound tourism to New Zealand from these markets,” says Luxon.

Cathay Pacific chief executive Ivan Chu said, “We are very pleased to continue the strategic agreement with Air New Zealand which enables us to offer travellers greater convenience and more connection opportunities to destinations in mainland China via Hong Kong and beyond Auckland. Consumers will continue to benefit from a wider choice of fares between the two gateway cities.”

Rajesh Menon, regional sales and marketing ,manager-South Asia says, “I am confident that this arrangement will benefit Indian passengers travelling on the Honkong-New Zealand route. Passengers travelling for business or leisure out of India can avail of better flexibility with their flight itineraries to and from Auckland. Indian travellers can also gain from our attractive ‘advance purchase fares’ to New Zealand and enjoy fabulous connections through our revised flight timings during the winter season.”