United to continue Auckland-Melbourne flights

United Airlines will continue its daily Auckland-Melbourne return Boeing 747 flights which the airline reinstated in April.

The service, which departs Auckland for Melbourne each morning and returns early evening, was scheduled to run until October.

United's General Manager for New Zealand, Stephen Pearse, said there was pleasing support for the service from business and leisure travellers, plus importers and exporters.

"We're the only carrier flying the Tasman to offer the comfort of the larger Boeing 747-400 aircraft and also the only one to offer the choice of First Class."

While the flight is comparatively short, United's First Class Suite means passengers can cross the Tasman lying down in ergonomically designed seats that fold down into a two-metre long bed.

Alternatively, passengers can catch up on work by setting up an airborne office, or simply relax and tune in to multiple video and audio channels.