Air New Zealand celebrates 40 years of services to Los Angeles

Following ongoing debate over Australia-USA air rights, Air New Zealand today celebrates 40 years of services to Los Angeles, as one of the longest standing carriers on the trans-Pacific route.

The inaugural Los Angeles-Auckland service operated via Fiji and Honolulu on 14 December 1965 with a DC8 aircraft.

Air New Zealand Group General Manager Network, Marketing & Sales, Norm Thompson said it had been an exciting 40 years for Air New Zealand in North America, with significant changes in aircraft types and product offerings introduced over this time.

“First operating as TEAL (Tasman Empire Airways Limited), a small airline with only one flight per week to Long Beach, California, via the South Pacific, Air New Zealand stands today as an award winning international airline offering fourteen direct services per week Auckland to Los Angeles, seven services via Pacific Island destinations and six services per week Auckland to San Francisco all accessible for Australian travellers through connecting trans-Tasman flights.

“We look forward to strengthening the bridge built between Australia, New Zealand and North America over the next 40 years and continuing to be an airline of choice for travellers on this route,” said Mr Thompson.

Air New Zealand General Manager Australia, Michael Reed added that Air New Zealand has remained a popular and competitive airline choice for Australian holidaymakers heading to the USA for many years.

“We provide important additional capacity on the trans-Pacific route via New Zealand and give Australians extra flexibility and choice when making their US travel plans particularly travellers from other ports than Sydney,” Mr Reed said

The 40 year anniversary follows a tremendous year of achievement for Air New Zealand’s international services.  During the year the airline commenced the NZ$180 million upgrade of the interiors of its eight B747-400 aircraft including new seats, lie-flat beds,  a state -of –the- art in-flight entertainment system, and a new food and beverage service.

In addition, the first two of eight new B777-200ER aircraft to be delivered as part of a NZ$2 billion fleet investment, commenced service in recent months. Fitted with the same interiors and cabin class product as the refitted B747s, these aircraft are currently dedicated to the San Francisco route.

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