New flights set to boost Cook Islands tourism

Sunday, 21 Jan, 2011 0

Air New Zealand, Air Pacific and the Cook Islands Government have joined together to help boost tourism to the destination.

After a successful trial service in 2010, Air New Zealand will start a weekly flight from Sydney to Rarotonga and has also decided to continue its weekly Los Angeles to Rarotonga flight over the next three years.

Meanwhile, Air Pacific is in the process of reaching an agreement with the Cook Islands Government for a three year contract, which will see the launch of a Fiji to Rarotonga weekly flight, offering direct north bound connections to the Hong Kong service.

This service will enable visitors to island hop between the Cook Islands and Fiji.

Carmel Beattie, CEO of the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, said: "This allows us to heavily promote our beautiful islands to key markets, including the UK, like never before.”

A code share with Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic has also been announced for routes between the UK and New Zealand, which will further help increase visitors to the Cook Islands.

The airlines expect the code share to come into force at the end of February 2011, after obtaining the relevant government approvals.

by Bev Fearis

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Bev

Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.

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