Zkpilot wrote:

it’s not $3-4B, it’s about $2B, the other $1-2B is for the new transport centre and other airport improvements.

I've read that the rest of the cost ($1.7b) is for "other projects associated with the integration, and includes forecast increases in construction costs and holding costs" - has it actually been confirmed by AIAL that the $1.7b is for the transport centre?

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/486 ... nt-project

Strong demand for NZ's re-launched DPS service.

... we're seeing demand come through quite strongly ... We're really happy with how... bookings are tracking

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newshu ... f.amp.html

I have saw this topic was discussed on last month's thread, but not really clear on what the path forward is. Can anyone tell me what UA's growth plans are for NZ?

For reference, someone posted this article below on last's month thread, but can't get it to open, even tried signing up for an account and paying for a month just to read this but it isn't letting me sign up. If anyone has access to this site and can tell me what it is saying that would be great!

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/uni ... HHGHEEB3E/

The gist I have gotten is UA wants to expand it's relationship with NZ and I assume that means add more flights into AKL or other airports, but I am unclear on what those routes might be. Does anyone have any insights?

Any potential/hypothetical UA flights into CHC from SFO are likely to be incentive induced (ie subsidies from the Airport operators and/or local jurisdictions) considering the lower population/O&D on the CHC end, despite being a tourist area.

What about additional flights to AKL? Would it be increased frequency from SFO such as2x daily, would they add LAX? Not sure how they decide if to make it 2x daily from SFO vs add from LAX.

planemanofnz wrote:

Strong demand for NZ's re-launched DPS service.

... we're seeing demand come through quite strongly ... We're really happy with how... bookings are tracking

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newshu ... f.amp.html

It states DPS is pretty much the last seasonal service to resume, no KIX anytime soon? NW I know for KIX.

ZK-NBT wrote:

... no KIX anytime soon?

NZ said less than six months ago:

The airline told Newshub it currently has no plans to restart direct flights to other Japanese airports it has previously flown to such as Haneda or Kansai.

KIX's only flight to Australasia is JQ to CNS. If KIX can't sustain a service to SYD/MEL/BNE in the post-Covid era, you'd imagine AKL wouldn't be a go-er either.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/travel/2 ... s.amp.html

Interesting article on KE at AKL from last month, which IIRC wasn't posted on here at the time.

https://simpleflying.com/korean-air-boo ... er_popup=1

In 2019, for KE's ICN-AKL-ICN service:

- Average seat load factor of about 85%.

- More than two-thirds (67%) were point-to-point between ICN and AKL.

- Only about a quarter of passengers transited ICN. The rest connected over AKL (5%) or bridged ICN and AKL (3%).

- The biggest sources of connections to AKL were LHR, PUS, AMS, PRG, KIX, FRA, TLV, CDG, FUK, and VVO.

I find the lack of Chinese connections interesting.

I wonder how the above would compare to NZ's flight.

Zkpilot wrote:

nz2 wrote:

zkncj wrote:

Reading some of these articles this morning about the new domestic terminal development.

Allot of them point back to the “green line” walkway between domestic and international or having to take a bus between terminal and calling it third world.

Um? Have they not traveled outside of New Zealand, the people that writing these articles I can think of many airports overseas with terminal transfers. Bare in mind over the years AIAL made roaring changes around the terminals that made this transfer process worse.

SYD/BNE you can’t even walk between International it’s bus, taxi or train.

Why is New Zealand so fixated that Domestic and International have to be the same terminal?

Surely for around $1-1.5billion, they could of built a upgraded stand alone domestic terminal.

Totally agree, I am in AKL so have never had to make "the walk" and if you think about a third of the population live in AKL, what is the real number that actually transfer? Proportionately probably not as many that would demand a new terminal. $3-4b to build a new integrated operation would pay for a lot more buses on the circuit, the AIAL could have them turn up every 60 seconds and still save about $3b over the next 50 years!

It’s not $3-4B, it’s about $2B, the other $1-2B is for the new transport centre and other airport improvements. Even so $2B is still a lot of money for a new pier of 12 gates (especially considering the stands/tarmac is already built.

Exactly, with the tarmac already being there, surely they could be building something more around the $1billion mark.

What's up with the militant wardens at AKL domestic drop off - we were trying to get a wheelchair family member out of the car today and even while parked in the disability spot with a valid permit were harrassed to move on. I had to leave and do a loop back to parking and run back - really not good. AirNZ staff were awesome to deal with but AKL airport staff were hopeless.

planemanofnz wrote:

ZK-NBT wrote:

... no KIX anytime soon?

NZ said less than six months ago:

The airline told Newshub it currently has no plans to restart direct flights to other Japanese airports it has previously flown to such as Haneda or Kansai.

KIX's only flight to Australasia is JQ to CNS. If KIX can't sustain a service to SYD/MEL/BNE in the post-Covid era, you'd imagine AKL wouldn't be a go-er either.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/travel/2 ... s.amp.html

Thanks I must have missed that.

evanroberts wrote:

United is cutting back their planned July/August SFO-AKL daily operations to 3 days a week because of aircraft availability.

Aircraft availability? You've got to be kidding me. This is about yields and priorities - that's it. UA has just resumed / started a bunch of international routes this week. AKL simply isn't that high up the list at this time of year.

DUDtoDFW wrote:

Grant Bradley's latest (paywalled) in NZH, reporting on a speech from United's SVP of Network Planning, who's in New Zealand: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/united-airlines-working-with-air-new-zealand-on-aotearoa-expansion/54735COEWJEG7DH2OHHGHEEB3E/

- UA working to increase services to New Zealand in conjunction with NZ
- "Industry chatter" that additional services will be on UA metal
- Maybe Chicago? NZ "flies just 3 times a week to United's home base"
- UA can move quickly as didn't retire any fleet or lay off pilots during covid, now #1 on both Atlantic and Pacific from USA, first time since PanAm that an airline has had that distinction
- Ruled out DEN. Too difficult to operate long haul routes out of, New Zealand would face unacceptable payload hit
- New Zealand traditionally a "back cabin" market but now "the front cabin is packed"
- 77Es are "ideal" aircraft for UA from West Coast to New Zealand, leaves 787s for longer routes
- Supersonic "boom" planes will be for East Coast - Europe and maybe SFO-HND, but not South Pacific, too far to fly. (That's if they ever get delivered of course.)

ChrisPeters wrote:

I have saw this topic was discussed on last month's thread, but not really clear on what the path forward is. Can anyone tell me what UA's growth plans are for NZ?

For reference, someone posted this article below on last's month thread, but can't get it to open, even tried signing up for an account and paying for a month just to read this but it isn't letting me sign up. If anyone has access to this site and can tell me what it is saying that would be great!

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/uni ... HHGHEEB3E/

The gist I have gotten is UA wants to expand it's relationship with NZ and I assume that means add more flights into AKL or other airports, but I am unclear on what those routes might be. Does anyone have any insights?

I don’t subscribe to the NZ hearld either, so I think some of the mentioned are speculative. There was chat back on page 2 of this thread.

I would see more UA from the west coast to NZ, LAX-AKL, SFO-CHC myself. I would see NZ increase JFK/ORD.

NZ321 wrote:

evanroberts wrote:

United is cutting back their planned July/August SFO-AKL daily operations to 3 days a week because of aircraft availability.

Aircraft availability? You've got to be kidding me. This is about yields and priorities - that's it. UA has just resumed / started a bunch of international routes this week. AKL simply isn't that high up the list at this time of year.

Depends how you look at it, it could be aircraft availability as the said aircraft can as you say make more money elsewhere at that time of year. They did just switch to a 789, until June at least, first time they have been scheduled to AKL, a couple did visit as subs.

NZ516 wrote:

planemanofnz wrote:

Strong demand for NZ's re-launched DPS service.

... we're seeing demand come through quite strongly ... We're really happy with how... bookings are tracking

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newshu ... f.amp.html

Indeed very strong demand they sold 10,000 seats in the first week of sales. It's around the 3rd most popular route for Air NZ. It's surprising that it's not a year round service really

Year round keeps coming up for DPS, it’s seen as a sun market and is largely outbound, I don’t think it will go year round as aircraft make more $ on the inbound markets at that time of year.

NZ516 wrote:

ChrisPeters wrote:

I have saw this topic was discussed on last month's thread, but not really clear on what the path forward is. Can anyone tell me what UA's growth plans are for NZ?

For reference, someone posted this article below on last's month thread, but can't get it to open, even tried signing up for an account and paying for a month just to read this but it isn't letting me sign up. If anyone has access to this site and can tell me what it is saying that would be great!

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/uni ... HHGHEEB3E/

The gist I have gotten is UA wants to expand it's relationship with NZ and I assume that means add more flights into AKL or other airports, but I am unclear on what those routes might be. Does anyone have any insights?

Perhaps they are still in discussions at the moment UA and NZ.
UA might not have the spare capacity to increase flying to NZ.
They are reducing frequency in the winter to AKL because of capacity restraints.

This would be in NW that UA would increase AKL, possibly year round eventually.

77west wrote:

What's up with the militant wardens at AKL domestic drop off - we were trying to get a wheelchair family member out of the car today and even while parked in the disability spot with a valid permit were harrassed to move on. I had to leave and do a loop back to parking and run back - really not good. AirNZ staff were awesome to deal with but AKL airport staff were hopeless.

That's very standard behaviour unfortunately.

SelandiaBaru wrote:

77west wrote:

What's up with the militant wardens at AKL domestic drop off - we were trying to get a wheelchair family member out of the car today and even while parked in the disability spot with a valid permit were harrassed to move on. I had to leave and do a loop back to parking and run back - really not good. AirNZ staff were awesome to deal with but AKL airport staff were hopeless.

That's very standard behaviour unfortunately.

It's really not good enough. Luckily I had my mum to help otherwise I would have had to leave our disabled family member sitting on the side of the pickup road while I went to find parking. There should be a 15-min allowance at least to get disabled pax through to hand over to the airline.

Honestly I'd contact AIAL and local media. This is the sort of thing where it's reasonable to give mobility parking permit holders extra time. Above what other vehicle users can make use of.

A quick search also brought this up which may be another option. https://corporate.aucklandairport.co.nz ... nd-airport

09 June 2022

A new valet parking service aimed at smoothing the journey for travellers with limited mobility is opening at Auckland Airport.

Available to Mobility Parking Permit holders, the Mobility Valet provides an assisted parking service right outside the international terminal for the same price as parking in one of the airport’s long-stay car parks.

The traffic control is a mess....last Friday went to pick up family member from Domestic to drop off at Intnl. All the domestic drop off/pick up space was taken up with people just waiting......i just had to stop in the moving lane to do my pick up.The very young traffic wardens were not doing anything to move these cars along. It was chaos with cars backed up right around the carpark up to the round about.
Had to drop rental car back at airport a couple of weeks ago.....follow the signs and you go to the domestic terminal.....only to then be told to go to the Intnl terminal n follow the signs.....ending up in a shed beyond the hotel. I know it is temporary but at least have correct signage up. The AVIS guy said they've been asking AIAL for signs for domestic drop off but no one listening.

New aviation legislation passed yesterday, to be implemented over the next two years.

The Civil Aviation Bill repeals and replaces the Civil Aviation Act 1990 and the Airport Authorities Act 1966 with a single modern law that strengthens our aviation security rules to keep New Zealanders safe.

"The Bill brings in greater controls and creates a zero-tolerance approach around the use of drugs and alcohol, including random drug testing ... the Bill [also] gives Police new powers to take down drones if they are being flown in a dangerous manner."

http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/5/414832

NZ pilots face tighter border rules in Australia, which has hit NZ's schedules.

The airline is ... working to minimise the impact of new rules in Australia requiring crew to get Australian Border Force clearance when doing round-trip flights across the Tasman. They have to get off the aircraft and go through airports instead of staying on board as has historically been the practice.

Until recently, turnaround crews operating to Australian ports remained on board on the ‘turn’ and Australian Border Force (ABF) cleared crew at the aircraft.

It is not something Australian crews are required to do in New Zealand.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/aus ... RBNYZQSDI/

Indeed, I also read that with a raised eyebrow and a translation to "our projected yields are higher elsewhere"! Aircraft availability is what the schedule change email said. It was interesting to me that they were originally scheduling a daily service around the women's soccer world cup time, but maybe forward bookings weren't what they hoped. The US games for the cup are, I understand, selling well so some increase in US inbound tourism for that period is likely.

NZ321 wrote:

evanroberts wrote:

United is cutting back their planned July/August SFO-AKL daily operations to 3 days a week because of aircraft availability.

Aircraft availability? You've got to be kidding me. This is about yields and priorities - that's it. UA has just resumed / started a bunch of international routes this week. AKL simply isn't that high up the list at this time of year.

NZ516 wrote:

planemanofnz wrote:

NZ pilots face tighter border rules in Australia, which has hit NZ's schedules.

The airline is ... working to minimise the impact of new rules in Australia requiring crew to get Australian Border Force clearance when doing round-trip flights across the Tasman. They have to get off the aircraft and go through airports instead of staying on board as has historically been the practice.

Until recently, turnaround crews operating to Australian ports remained on board on the ‘turn’ and Australian Border Force (ABF) cleared crew at the aircraft.

It is not something Australian crews are required to do in New Zealand.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/aus ... RBNYZQSDI/

This will be a change so crew will have to come off the aircraft on a tight turnaround and go through security checks and passport control and join the long lines of other passengers.

Surely must mean they will no longer be able to do those hour long turnarounds, wonder what will happen to airline schedules going forward as this too will surely hit QF as well seeing as they use Jetconnect crews

mrkerr7474 wrote:

... wonder what will happen to airline schedules going forward as this too will surely hit QF as well seeing as they use Jetconnect crews

So far, NZ is playing it down, referencing only "minor impacts on flight schedules".

NZ is also advocating for a change to the policy - "Work was being done on this in the background and the airline expected the issue to be resolved soon".

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/aus ... RBNYZQSDI/

As per the 3rd Level blog:

Arriving into Auckland as Texel 789 in the early hours of this morning was Texel Air's Boeing 737-33A(SF) Bahrain-registered A9C-APC. This particular aircraft is not a stranger to New Zealand skies, previously being operated by Air New Zealand as ZK-NGP.



https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/

Did anyone get a photo? There are photos online of the aircraft in earlier settings - like:

Speaking of air cargo, also interesting to see DHL's expansion here:

DHL has upgraded the freighter it flies between Melbourne and Auckland, doubling its capacity to 24 unit load devices in the main deck, with five overnight services a week. DHL Express managing director for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands Mark Foy said the upgrades, which have been running for about a month now, were demand-driven ...

[DHL] also added a stop to Christchurch on its Auckland to Sydney express route, giving fresh produce and product exporters in the South Island faster overseas delivery options.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/487 ... d-auckland

With this expansion, plus that of Texel as per the post above, is NZ missing out on trans-Tasman air cargo demand?

Looking at NZ's grabaseat website shows some interesting things:

- It's incredible the premium NZ is now getting on AKL-WLG services, which are more expensive than longer sectors on jets (AKL-CHC/DUD/ZQN) and props (AKL-NSN/BHE).

- It's also incredible the premium NZ is getting to DPS, with prices almost double those of the PVG service ($2,122 return, versus $1,192 return), and even more than JFK ($2,109).

- HKG also delivering a huge premium for NZ, with the most expensive Business Class fares to Asia ($7,502 return, versus $5,538 to SIN). Interesting given economic context there.

NZ516 wrote:

planemanofnz wrote:

NZ pilots face tighter border rules in Australia, which has hit NZ's schedules.

The airline is ... working to minimise the impact of new rules in Australia requiring crew to get Australian Border Force clearance when doing round-trip flights across the Tasman. They have to get off the aircraft and go through airports instead of staying on board as has historically been the practice.

Until recently, turnaround crews operating to Australian ports remained on board on the ‘turn’ and Australian Border Force (ABF) cleared crew at the aircraft.

It is not something Australian crews are required to do in New Zealand.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/aus ... RBNYZQSDI/

This will be a change so crew will have to come off the aircraft on a tight turnaround and go through security checks and passport control and join the long lines of other passengers.

Without commenting on the policy, aircrew do not join the long lines of other passengers.

Please continue discussion in New Zealand Aviation - April 2023

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1482883