Air New Zealand is dumping services between Hong Kong and London from March next year, a move the airline says will help to return its international network to profitability.
Separately, the airline has struck an agreement with Cathay Pacific on the Auckland-Hong Kong route which will see both carriers continue to operate the same frequency between Auckland and Hong Kong while introducing code share on each other’s flights
Air NZ chief executive, Rob Fyfe, said a review of the Hong Kong-London service has confirmed the route would not become profitable in the foreseeable future.
About 70 London-based cabin crew roles will be affected.
Fyfe said the decision to exit from Hong Kong-London would enable more capacity to be redeployed onto the North American destinations of Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Customers holding tickets to commence travel with Air New Zealand between Hong Kong and London from March 4 2013 will be re-booked, in most cases onto Cathay Pacific’s services.
By Ian Jarrett
