Ann: GENERAL: AIA: AIA Auckland Airport welcomes China Eastern Airlines to NZ

• Release Date: 30/09/14 14:46
• Summary: GENERAL: AIA: AIA Auckland Airport welcomes China Eastern Airlines to NZ
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					AIA
30/09/2014 14:46
GENERAL

REL: 1446 HRS Auckland International Airport Limited

GENERAL: AIA: AIA Auckland Airport welcomes China Eastern Airlines to NZ

Media Release | 30 September 2014

Auckland Airport welcomes China Eastern Airlines to New Zealand

Auckland Airport and China Eastern Airlines are delighted to announce a new
seasonal Shanghai to Auckland service, scheduled to commence in December
2014.
The new service from China Eastern Airlines will see a direct flight
operating on the Shanghai to Auckland route during the peak New Zealand
period of December 2014 to March 2015. The service will initially operate
four flights per week which will increase to seven flights per week in
January 2015.
Charles Spillane, Auckland Airport's acting general manager aeronautical
commercial, says the introduction of this service will add an extra 47,000
seats on this route, contributing an estimated $54 million to the New Zealand
economy over the peak New Zealand period.
"Shanghai is an incredibly dynamic city and represents a huge growth
opportunity for the New Zealand market," says Mr Spillane.  "When we look at
the year ending June 2014, we saw almost 36,000 visitors arriving from
Shanghai, an increase of 20 per cent when compared to the same period the
year before," continues Mr Spillane.
"Currently there is only one direct carrier on the Shanghai to Auckland
route. With the introduction of China Eastern Airlines, we are expecting
double digit growth from the Shanghai market during the peak New Zealand
summer period. Not only will this new seasonal service deliver more capacity
and choice for travellers but it will also stimulate demand by diversifying
the product offering on this route."
"We have also experienced impressive growth from the Chinese market as a
whole, with China now placed as New Zealand's second largest tourist market.
The new Chinese travel law, which was introduced in October 2013, has helped
to positively reshape the market by requiring travel sellers in China to
offer better quality group tour packages.  This has meant we are seeing
increased numbers of high-value Chinese tourists visiting New Zealand,
contributing more to our tourism industry and also the New Zealand economy."
Ms. Kathy Zhang, General Manager Oceania for China Eastern Airlines, says the
airline is excited to introduce seasonal flights to the New Zealand market.
"We operated two charter flights on the Shanghai to Auckland route during the
2014 Chinese New Year and experienced great demand for these flights."
"That success has played a crucial role in our decision to offer this new
seasonal operation.  New Zealand is one of the most popular destinations for
Chinese travellers and we are confident we will experience strong demand for
our new service."
The new service from China Eastern Airlines will operate on the Shanghai to
Auckland route from 9 December 2014 to 28 March 2015 (subject to regulatory
approval).

China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines, headquartered in Shanghai, is one of the three major
airlines in mainland China. It flies a fleet of more than 500 long-haul and
short-haul aircraft with an average age of less than seven years.  China
Eastern Airlines serves nearly 80 million travellers annually and ranks among
the world's top five airlines in terms of passenger transportation volume.
As an official member of SkyTeam, China Eastern Airlines has extended its
flight network from Shanghai to 1064 cities in 178 countries via close
cooperation with SkyTeam member airlines.
With the concept of "World-class hospitality with Eastern charm", China
Eastern Airlines creates splendid travel experiences for global customers
with a comfortable and convenient service quality.
For more information, please visit www.flychinaeastern.com.

ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Katie Moore
+64 27 473 1989
End CA:00255892 For:AIA    Type:GENERAL    Time:2014-09-30 14:46:52