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- Release Date: 22/11/13 14:08
- Summary: GENERAL: AIA: AIA welcomes China Southern's additional Chinese NY flights
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AIA
22/11/2013 12:08
GENERAL
REL: 1208 HRS Auckland International Airport Limited
GENERAL: AIA: AIA welcomes China Southern's additional Chinese NY flights
Auckland Airport has today welcomed the announcement that China Southern
Airlines will increase its Auckland flights during the 2014 Chinese New Year.
The two 787 return flights are in addition to the 10 weekly 787 flights
during the December to March summer peak, already announced by the airline.
Glenn Wedlock, Auckland Airport's general manager aeronautical commercial,
says the new flights on 26 and 28 January 2014 will provide an extra 900
seats during this important Chinese festival and holiday period.
"Today's announcement confirms the long-term strength of the Chinese outbound
market and New Zealand as a popular travel destination. It also signals the
growing interest New Zealanders have in China as a travel destination."
"While Chinese passenger numbers to New Zealand decreased by 11.6% in October
this year, this was very much due to the new Chinese travel law which shifted
demand forward into September."
"The new law has actually driven more growth towards the New Zealand direct
services and away from dual destination services via Australia. This
significantly increases the high-value free independent Chinese travellers
which stay longer and tend to visit more of New Zealand," says Mr Wedlock.
China Southern Airlines New Zealand General Manager, Mike Ma, says "There has
been a very strong booking pattern for the peak summer season. Overall
forward bookings have already reached more than 80% and we are very confident
that the strong growth will continue into the new year."
Mr Wedlock says, "We believe the new travel law and increased direct China
Southern capacity provide an opportunity for the New Zealand industry to
invest more and capture a greater share of high-value Chinese tourism.
Therefore, it is important for us to be even more ambitious and creative at
this time."
Ends
Note for media: China Southern Airlines is currently flying daily Boeing 787
Dreamliner flights direct between Auckland and Guangzhou. They have announced
they will increase this to 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights per week from 1
December 2013 to 3 March 2014.
For further information please contact:
Simon Lambourne
+64 9 255 9089
+64 27 477 6120
[email protected]
End CA:00244175 For:AIA Type:GENERAL Time:2013-11-22 12:08:40
