Chinese carrier Sichuan Airlines has announced a new nonstop route to New Zealand beginning in the summer.
It will begin flying between Auckland and Chengdu from June 13 three times a week on A330 aircraft.
The airline is the largest operator of Airbus jets in China with more than 120 planes operating 240 routes.
Chengdu is the first city offering a 72-hour transit visa exemption for foreign travellers and was awarded the best tourist destination in China by the WTO and China National Tourism Administration.
Reservations are now live for bookings on the route.
A record 422,000 Chinese tourists visited New Zealand last year, generating about US$1.5 billion in spending.
The New Zealand government recently eased the process for entry visas, rolling out a five-year multiple-entry visa for Chinese visitors and the Immigration New Zealand website now accepts UnionPay credit and debit cards for visa payments.
