Air New Zealand’s nonstop passenger flights to the US will include a Hawaii stopover from next month.
However passengers will not be able to disembark and head for the beaches – it is purely an operational stop for a flight crew changeover.
With surging Covid infections on the West Coast, it has taken the step to reroute flights through Honolulu to reduce the risk to its flight crews.
It will swap crews in Hawaii before continuing to Los Angeles and San Francisco.
That allows Air NZ aircrew to stay overnight ‘in a lower risk destination while still maintaining vital connections into North America,’ the airline said.
It means extra journey time for passengers bound for Los Angeles from 2 February.
It also affects cargo flights starting from this week.
"While it’s important to keep trade routes open and passenger services operating for our customers, looking after our people is our first priority," said Air NZ CEO Greg Foran.
"I’d like to thank everyone who has helped us to move so quickly in rerouting our flights, from officials in New Zealand and the US."
Customers impacted by the change will be contacted directly by the airline.
Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor
