V2fix From New Zealand, joined Mar 2003, 368 posts, RR: 4 Posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 2202 times:
Looking through the a.net photos I noticed that there some photographs of Air New Zeland flights at London Gatwick? I though they have always flown into Heathow !
From the photos on A.net I've worked out :
Aug 1980 @ LHR (DC10-30)
Feb 1984 @LGW
Mar 1993 @LGW
Jul 1996 @LHR
Now @ LHR
When exactly did they fly into LGW instead of LHR ?
Why did they fly into LGW ?
Kaitak From Ireland, joined Aug 1999, 11948 posts, RR: 37 Reply 1, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 2195 times:
Like other airlines such as CX and (I think) KE, ANZ flew into Gatwick because it couldn't get access to Heathrow. It flew DC10s for a time on behalf of BA on the LHR-LAX route, but that wasn't an operation in its own right. It began flying to LGW in the mid 80s and then flew to LHR from the mid -90s when the rule banning new carriers into Heathrow was changed. This allowed CX in as well. Neither flies to LGW anymore. Indeed, most airlines flying to LGW on long haul flights would gladly transfer them all to LHR.
AA61hvy From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 13975 posts, RR: 59 Reply 2, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 2133 times:
If I recall thats why Garuda flew/flies to LGW and not LHR.
TG992 From New Zealand, joined Jan 2001, 2910 posts, RR: 11 Reply 3, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 2072 times:
V2fix..
In January 1974, British Airways and Air New Zealand finalised an aircraft interchange agreement. An Auckland-Los Angeles Air New Zealand service connected with a Los Angeles-London British Airways flight with Air New Zealand-owned DC10 aircraft operating both services.
Air NZ commenced twice-weekly services to London Gatwick in our own right on August 25, 1982. Flight TE002 operated AKL-PPT-LAX-LHR, becoming TE001 for the return (same routing). Equipment was Boeing 747-200.
On April 1, 1984, the first nonstop B747 flight from Auckland to Los Angeles as part of weekly one-stop service to London occurred. Journey time northbound of 24 hours is fastest from New Zealand to United Kingdom.
November 24, 1994, we transferred operations to Heathrow.
V2fix From New Zealand, joined Mar 2003, 368 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 2035 times:
TG992 thanks for the history. I remember the Air New Zealand DC10-30s as they were hosts to my first every flight, back in 1979 (showing my age.)
The TE001/2 (now NZ1/NZ2) must be one of the longest running airline routes still operating in its original form. Its certainly the longest route operated by a continuous single aircraft! Those 744 most be some of the hardest workers flying!
Its good to see how such a route gets established over a number of years, from a aircraft interchange agreement (fore-runner to todays codeshares?), to a twice weekly all Air NZ service to todays daily flight. Just goes to show how hard airlines have to work to become established on routes and to build up the client base.
Still, having done it once AKL-LHR via HKG shouldn't be so daunting ! (Just kidding/dreaming).
V2fix From New Zealand, joined Mar 2003, 368 posts, RR: 4 Reply 6, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 2016 times:
TG992 - Just one more question - honest!
At LHR the turnaround time for NZ2 to become NZ1 is 6 hours (I don't know whether the aircraft stays on stand all this time). Did Air New Zealand ever consider flying on to, say Frankfurt or another European city, to access more NZ tourist markets in this 6 hours ?
B-HOP From Hong Kong, joined Nov 2000, 559 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 1922 times:
NZ used to serve FRA till 3/01 twice weekly. NZ transfer to LHR at early 90's along with NH,KE,BR,CX,VS and a few others because British government remove some 'exclusive' right for BA to operate from LHR as the sole operator.
Ned Kelly From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2001, 393 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 1893 times:
Just to add,
ANZ first LGW service was operated by ZK-NZV which arrived on the 26/8.
I have had the following photo on my hard drive for some time which I have just uploaded. It shows ZK-NZV at LGW on 26/8 operating this service. The photo may possibly get rejected, so have a look while you can!
TG992 From New Zealand, joined Jan 2001, 2910 posts, RR: 11 Reply 11, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 1866 times:
V2fix -
Our FRA operations were not a stunning success in terms of yield, and with the Star Alliance agreements, there is no great incentive to spend tons of money setting up the infrastructure in a new city to handle a daily 747 service, that would only be competing with our Star partners.
I would imagine this would be the reason the 744s take a nap at LHR for awhile.
Planenutz From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 1267 posts, RR: 12 Reply 14, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 1791 times:
Air China was another airline that was given permission to transfer ops to LHR from LGW. Air China, formally known as CAAC, operated several flights a week to LGW via Sharjah (I think).
V2fix From New Zealand, joined Mar 2003, 368 posts, RR: 4 Reply 15, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 1761 times:
Extending NZ3/4 or NZ5/6 to LHR would be excellent. NZ1/2 are always packed solid, so there must be room for capacity growth there.
Hmm, I wonder what the political angle on preventing Air New Zealand using those LHR-HKG right might be ? Only BA,CX (OneWorld) and VS (err - nothing) fly this sector from LHR, there is no Star representation at all.
I suppose British Government could be protecting british airlines interests (BA and VS) and with the old Empire ties of the Swire Group I wouldn't be too surprised that CX are applying pressure. They weren't too happy with the Hong Kong government giving Air New Zealand fifth freedom rights in the first place!
I always wondered how SQ would feel about two airlines (VS and NZ) they gave stakes in competing on that sector.
And then if it does happen, we end up talking about whether Air New Zealand has enough metal to increase frequencies/take on new destinations. An endless discussion. What a great business this is!
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