Air New Zealand has released its domestic schedule for July and August, with the airline planning to operate around 55 percent of its usual domestic capacity compared to pre-COVID-19 levels.
Since the start of Alert Level 2 the airline has been flying reduced frequencies to the majority of the domestic ports it serviced pre-COVID-19.
Building on its domestic schedule, Air New Zealand General Manager Networks Scott Carr said “we’ve been encouraged by demand from leisure travellers recently and we’re also expecting demand for business travel to continue to build. As a result, we have been working to add more flying to our domestic schedule from next month and this includes additional services for the July school holidays.”
Next month, the airline will resume the Invercargill-Auckland A320 jet service, Invercargill-Wellington, Christchurch-Rotorua and Christchurch-New Plymouth routes, adding further direct connections for customers travelling between the North and South Islands.
Air New Zealand also released a statement on the proposed Wellington-Canberra route, saying “Air New Zealand is pleased to be working with the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum as part of the Trans-Tasman Safe Border Group.”
“Together with airports, tourism bodies and government representatives, safe border recommendations are being developed to be proposed to New Zealand and Australian government agencies for their consideration.”
“Air New Zealand is not proposing Tasman operations until such time that the Tasman borders are open, and only with the support of governments on both sides. We appreciate that both businesses and travellers are enthusiastic about operations – and we assure customers that as soon as it is possible to operate, Air New Zealand will be ready to return to the Tasman.”
Domestic return services in July and August
Auckland to/from:
| Destination | Weekly returns | Aircraft type |
| Blenheim | 16 | Q300 |
| Christchurch | 59 | A320 |
| Dunedin | 13 | A320 |
| Gisborne | 23 | Q300 |
| Invercargill | 4 | A320 |
| Kerikeri | 16 | Q300 |
| Napier | 36 | ATR/Q300 |
| Nelson | 32 | ATR/Q300 |
| New Plymouth | 25 | ATR/Q300 |
| Palmerston North | 37 | ATR |
| Rotorua | 10 | Q300 |
| Tauranga | 28 | ATR/Q300 |
| Taupo | 9 | Q300 |
| Wellington | 64 | A320 |
| Whangarei | 17 | Q300 |
| Queenstown | 47 | A320 |
Wellington to/from:
| Destination | Weekly returns | Aircraft type |
| Blenheim | 17 | Q300 |
| Dunedin | 19 | A320/ATR |
| Gisborne | 11 | Q300 |
| Hamilton | 27 | ATR/Q300 |
| Invercargill | 7 | Q300 |
| Napier | 16 | ATR |
| Nelson | 33 | ATR/Q300 |
| New Plymouth | 16 | ATR/Q300 |
| Rotorua | 16 | ATR/Q300 |
| Tauranga | 22 | ATR/Q300 |
| Timaru | 9 | Q300 |
| Queenstown | 19 | A320/ATR |
Christchurch to/from:
| Destination | Weekly returns | Aircraft type |
| Dunedin | 25 | ATR |
| Hokitika | 9 | Q300 |
| Hamilton | 15 | ATR |
| Invercargill | 20 | ATR |
| Napier | 15 | ATR/Q300 |
| Nelson | 25 | Q300 |
| New Plymouth | 7 | Q300 |
| Palmerston North | 19 | ATR |
| Rotorua | 7 | Q300 |
| Tauranga | 10 | Q300 |
| Wellington | 66 | A320/ATR/Q300 |
| Queenstown | 18 | A320/ATR |
Flights will be progressively available to book over the coming days via the website, www.airnewzealand.co.nz. Air New Zealand’s dedicated COVID-19 information hub is being updated continuously and customers should check this first, before calling the airline’s contact centre.
