Air NZ to offer Australia-Norfolk Island flights

Air New Zealand has won an Australian Government to operate flights between the Australian cities of Sydney and Brisbane and Norfolk Island. Photo / Thinkstock

Air New Zealand will begin operating twice-weekly services between two Australian cities and Norfolk Island from March next year.

The airline won an Australian Government tender to run the flights, which will complement its existing weekly services between Auckland and Norfolk Island, a tiny external territory of Australia which lies around 800km northwest of New Zealand.

Air New Zealand Group General Manager Australasia, Bruce Parton, said the airline had a "long and well-established relationship with the people of Norfolk Island, having been a trusted air service provider to customers there since 1947".

The new services, which will run between Sydney and Norfolk Island on Mondays and Fridays and Brisbane and Norfolk Island on Tuesdays and Saturdays, will utilise a 168-seat A320 aircraft.

Parton said in addition to boosting tourism to Norfolk Island, the additional flights would enable "dual destination travel - for example, Australian travellers will now be able to choose to visit both Norfolk Island and New Zealand on the same itinerary".

Air New Zealand will offer four fare classes on its Australia-Norfolk Island flights: seat only, a seat and a checked bag, The Works (which includes inflight entertainment, meals and drinks) and Works Deluxe, which adds in premium check in, priority baggage, lounge access where available, an additional checked bag, and a guaranteed empty seat next to you in the air.

Bookings for the new services, which will commence on Friday, March 2, will be available from tomorrow.

- NZ HERALD STAFF