Air NZ to make changes to unprofitable Pacific routes

Air New Zealand will make schedule changes to some of its Pacific flights next year, following a review of non-profitable routes.

From April 2, the airline will suspend its Rarotonga-Papeete-Los Angeles services, which currently operate three times per week.

It will instead code share with Air Tahiti Nui on four of its daily Papeete-Los Angeles services to maintain links with London.

It will also reinstate a weekly non-stop service between Rarotonga and Los Angeles to keep links between the Cook Islands and North America.

That service will fly twice a week during the peak April to July season and possibly the Christmas to February period.

Air NZ will also code share with Air Tahiti Nui on a non-stop service between Auckland and Papeete four times a week.

Regular services between Auckland and Rarotonga will continue as normal.

Group general manager of short haul airlines, Norm Thompson, said that despite the historic links Air NZ had with the Pacific, it could not justify the current level of service through Papeete and Rarotonga from Los Angeles.

He noted Air New Zealand had been flying the Coral Route for over 50 years and the importance of visitors from the Northern Hemisphere to both French Polynesia and the Cook Islands.

Also today Air NZ announced changes to the days of the week it flies its Nadi to Los Angeles route.

It will fly three days a week and the other four will be operated by Air Pacific under a code share agreement, subject to government approval.

- NZPA