Air New Zealand has released its international schedule through to June with some notable additions to the pandemic-trimmed international network. From 28 March the airline will be operating more Pacific services including a daily return service to Rarotonga.
The airline says the expanded international routes are mostly servicing key cargo routes and keeping links open for essential travel and returning New Zealanders.
The schedule features twice-weekly long-haul services between Auckland and Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Shanghai, weekly to Tokyo and slots once a month between New Zealand and Seoul.
While the airline said these long-haul routes were being kept running to increase seats for returning Kiwis, networks general manager Scott Carr said the new schedule reflected the "use it or lose it" nature of runway slots.
"This means if you don't fly the majority of your schedule you may lose access to airports."