Christchurch Airport is preparing for its biggest ever summer, with the season capacity at 1.27 million international seats to destinations in Australia, Asia and America.
This is 21% more seats than last summer, as airlines add new long-haul routes, more flights and larger aircraft, as well as extending services beyond the traditional summer peak.
The airport’s ceo Justin Watson says airlines have real confidence in this market and as a result, South Islanders have more choice. “For people who live here, more direct services mean fewer connections, more options and easier access to the world.”
Air New Zealand is among those contributing to the double-digit growth. The carrier is launching services to Singapore from 28 Oct, to Tokyo Narita from 28 Nov, and to Perth from 30 Nov. Singapore Airlines is also playing a notable role, adding three extra services a week to SIN for the summer, increasing to five a week during the peak period
Honourable mentions also go to Cathay Pacific, increasing Hong Kong flights to five per week over summer and upgauging select flights to a larger A350-1000, as well as China Southern Airlines, operating daily flights to Guangzhou over summer, with three extra services a week Dec-Feb.
United Airlines will use the larger Boeing 787-9 on its San Francisco service for its CHC season. Qantas will extend its third daily Sydney service to 14 weeks, and its Brisbane service will operate twice daily throughout the season. At the same time Jetstar is launching a thrice- weekly Perth service from 27 Oct and a four-times-weekly Sydney service from 26 Oct. Fiji Airways will also increase its Nadi service to as many as five flights a week over the Dec-Jan peak.
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