Ultra low fares for ultra long route - $1259 to London on Qatar Airways

Some fares to London aboard one of the world's top airlines have dropped to equal a record low.

Qatar Airways return flights have dropped to $1259 for a limited period next February when the airline launches services between Auckland and Doha.

House of Travel commercial director Brent Thomas said it equalled a fare the agent had promoted on Malaysian Airlines to London earlier this year.

"It's down there at the best value that we have seen,'' he said.

While they were limited seats for a two-week window, they were to raise awareness of the airline which is starting flights here on February 6 and reflected intense competition between carriers heading to Europe.

"It's a small window of travel and part of an awareness campaign. We think they will be successful.''

High taxes imposed in London usually push up fares above those in Europe.

Thomas said Qatar Airways was one of the world's premium carriers and like other new airlines operating here would use very modern planes.

New Zealanders were benefiting from a surge in capacity from the booming inbound tourist market. During the past 12 months eight new airlines had started or announced they were starting flights to New Zealand.

This meant airlines had more seats for New Zealanders heading north.

More deals will be available during seasonal "early bird" sales in the second week of February during which agents and airlines release more promotional fares for travel during the New Zealand winter.

There is one threat to continued low fares - rising oil prices.

Oil rose by more than 6.5 per cent on Monday to an 18-month high after OPEC and some of its rivals reached their first deal since 2001 to jointly reduce output to try to tackle global oversupply.

Most flying to New Zealand is long haul or ultra-long haul where fuel costs can make up a third of operating expenses.

However, Thomas said more efficient aircraft, some of which are 20 per cent improved on the planes they replace, will help airlines cope if fuel does continue to head up sharply.

The Auckland-Doha route will be the longest out of New Zealand, eclipsing Emirates 14,200km Auckland-Dubai service which was launched earlier this year. Both will take more than 17 hours.

Air India in October flew 15,300 km from New Delhi to San Francisco through the trans-Pacific route instead of the usual Atlantic route, which is shorter in length. Despite that, the non-stop flight was able to complete the journey in a record 14 hours and 30 minutes.

In early 2018 Qantas will launch a direct Perth to London flight of 14,446km - a flight which will take more than 17 hours.