AIA
09/10/2015 13:52
GENERAL
NOT PRICE SENSITIVE
REL: 1352 HRS Auckland International Airport Limited
GENERAL: AIA: AIAL Auckland Airport welcomes United Airlines
Media Release | 9 October 2015
Auckland Airport welcomes
United Airlines
Auckland Airport welcomes the announcement that United Airlines will start a
San Francisco to Auckland service in July 2016, using a B787 Dreamliner
aircraft.
Norris Carter, Auckland Airport's general manager - aeronautical commercial,
says, "United Airlines last flew into Auckland Airport in 2003 and we are
delighted to welcome them back. This new service is expected to deliver an
additional 140,000 seats every year on the North American route, and
contribute $190 million annually to the
New Zealand economy."
"The United States is our country's third largest international visitor
market, after Australia and China. In the year to 31 August 2015, 236,272
Americans visited
New Zealand, an 11.2% increase on the previous year, and approximately 80% of
them arrived at Auckland Airport."
"The new United Airlines service will improve our air connectivity to
North America. It provides greater airline choice for both the growing
numbers of American visitors coming to New Zealand, particularly from beyond
United Airlines'
San Francisco hub, and the increasing number of New Zealanders travelling to
the United States. It also improves air connectivity for United Airlines
customers who can use Auckland Airport as a southern hub to connect them to
destinations in
New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Australia."
The new United Airlines service will operate from the airline's main West
Coast hub. It will connect with 280 daily flights between San Francisco and
more than 90 destinations in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia /
Pacific. It adds a convenient, one-stop service between Auckland and more
than 44 cities in the
United States, including more than 40 cities that do not already have a
single-carrier, one-stop service to Auckland.
"United Airlines will operate its new service to Auckland Airport in
partnership with
Air New Zealand. Auckland Airport welcomes airline alliances that increase
air connectivity and provide consumer choice and competition," says Mr
Carter.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Simon Lambourne
+64 27 477 6120
[email protected]
End CA:00271544 For:AIA Type:GENERAL Time:2015-10-09 13:52:42
