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Now that the full March 2024 schedule is available in the booking engines, it appears UA’s new LAX-AKL route will end for the season on March 28th. As of now it appears the plan is to leave SFO-AKL around year round as daily on a 772. Will be interesting to see how that plays out, given right now it has been downgauged to a 789 on a 3x weekly schedule (and even at that the loads are pretty bad, take a look at todays flight).

It appears AA is suspended LAX-AKL on March 3rd, which seems very early. They are also starting it later than UA and DL, so will be on the route for a very short period of time.

DL is operating it beyond the March schedule as of now, but would be very surprised if it sticks around as year round daily service.

LAXPolaris wrote:

Now that the full March 2024 schedule is available in the booking engines, it appears UA’s new LAX-AKL route will end for the season on March 28th. As of now it appears the plan is to leave SFO-AKL around year round as daily on a 772. Will be interesting to see how that plays out, given right now it has been downgauged to a 789 on a 3x weekly schedule (and even at that the loads are pretty bad, take a look at todays flight).

It appears AA is suspended LAX-AKL on March 3rd, which seems very early. They are also starting it later than UA and DL, so will be on the route for a very short period of time.

DL is operating it beyond the March schedule as of now, but would be very surprised if it sticks around as year round daily service.

Way to early to tell what will happen, things aren’t confirmed until 3 months before. SFO-AKL was meant to be daily this NS23 but only changed a few weeks back to 3x weekly, I think it was from June IIRC.

AA with such a short season on LAX-AKL is odd but they have extended some European routes to 8-9 months of the year so capacity is only free for 3-4 months, they have DFW-AKL though which they have talked about possibly increasing.

DL said year round when they announced, weather it’s daily or not remains to be seen, possibly 10x SYD with 4x AKL or something?

Air NZ has updated its fleet page on their website to the 28th February 2023
It now includes the 8x787 order which was missing from last years version:

https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/fleet

Today is 1st of May so I did a search of the Air NZ fleet of 106 aircraft and found 92 flying and14 not in service. So interesting that there is less flying than the school holidays period just finished and a fair amount of maintenance underway. Plus the schedules could be lower this month than in April.

77W -OKM
789 - NZE, NZI
320- NHF, OYA, OYC, OXB, OXK
ATR - MVD, MVP, MVZ, MZC
Q300 - NEA, NEG

When is Air NZ going to remove the 10x weekly LAX-AKL down to 7x weekly?

LAXPolaris wrote:

When is Air NZ going to remove the 10x weekly LAX-AKL down to 7x weekly?

Didn't think the reduction to 7x weekly is confirmed? and just a rumor based on YA starting LAX-AKL.

zkncj wrote:

LAXPolaris wrote:

When is Air NZ going to remove the 10x weekly LAX-AKL down to 7x weekly?

Didn't think the reduction to 7x weekly is confirmed? and just a rumor based on YA starting LAX-AKL.

I haven’t seen anything official but everything points to that. Others have said they’re going to deploy those WBs on a different route. Also, UA’s new LAX-AKL operates on the same days NZ has the double daily, if NZ was going to keep it around UA should’ve done it on the opposite days so that the UA/NZ JV is always double daily LAX-AKL.

So while anything official is yet to come out, I don’t think we have any reason to believe it’s sticking around.

How is our delegation getting to London for the coronation - the B757 or commercial?

LAXPolaris wrote:

zkncj wrote:

LAXPolaris wrote:

When is Air NZ going to remove the 10x weekly LAX-AKL down to 7x weekly?

Didn't think the reduction to 7x weekly is confirmed? and just a rumor based on YA starting LAX-AKL.

I haven’t seen anything official but everything points to that. Others have said they’re going to deploy those WBs on a different route. Also, UA’s new LAX-AKL operates on the same days NZ has the double daily, if NZ was going to keep it around UA should’ve done it on the opposite days so that the UA/NZ JV is always double daily LAX-AKL.

So while anything official is yet to come out, I don’t think we have any reason to believe it’s sticking around.

I thought UA would do LAX-AKL daily so replace NZ and increase frequencies with the JV, it’s easy enough for NZ to swap days to alternate with UA to bring it to double daily.

Not to say NZ will operate it 10x I don’t know. It will be interesting to see why they lease. NZ don’t usually confirm NW schedule till July. NZ do have a shortage of capacity though so could use aircraft elsewhere.

77west wrote:

How is our delegation getting to London for the coronation - the B757 or commercial?

Surely via Commercial to make it there on time.

Otherwise look forward to see where the 757 breaks down along the way. Those things have had a number of breakdowns over the last few years on missions, they are around 30 years old.

https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/press-r ... hts-resume

CA return PEK-AKL 4x weekly tomorrow and NZ return to daily to PVG the following day.

Interesting nothing was said by NZ on the UA route announcement.

ZK-NBT wrote:

https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/press-release-2023-air-nz-china-capacity-ramping-up-as-daily-shanghai-flights-resume

CA return PEK-AKL 4x weekly tomorrow and NZ return to daily to PVG the following day.

Interesting nothing was said by NZ on the UA route announcement.

Good to see NZ rebounding so well in Asia, hopefully this will give them more confidence around acquiring more fleet sooner.

zkncj wrote:

77west wrote:

How is our delegation getting to London for the coronation - the B757 or commercial?

Surely via Commercial to make it there on time.

Otherwise look forward to see where the 757 breaks down along the way. Those things have had a number of breakdowns over the last few years on missions, they are around 30 years old.

Yeah they really need replacing. If going commercial I would expect NZ2 (Jacinda used it once or twice from memory) and then some connecting flight probably on UA. That said they did use the 757 when JA visited Biden, and yes it did break down a few times. Maybe they will catch a ride with Trudeau like last time.

zkncj wrote:

ZK-NBT wrote:

https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/press-release-2023-air-nz-china-capacity-ramping-up-as-daily-shanghai-flights-resume

CA return PEK-AKL 4x weekly tomorrow and NZ return to daily to PVG the following day.

Interesting nothing was said by NZ on the UA route announcement.

Good to see NZ rebounding so well in Asia, hopefully this will give them more confidence around acquiring more fleet sooner.

More fleet sooner? NZ have said they see a fleet of 23-24, they will be at 21 with the 7th 77W returning shortly, plus the Wamos lease which will be replaced in October by how many 77W leases? I would presume 1 77W but wouldn’t be surprised if there was 2. They are already close to what they predicted in terms of fleet numbers.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230501-qrsep23akl

QR have retimed their arrival into AKL when the non stop returns on Sep 1st. I think it was 0415 before.

ZK-NBT wrote:

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230501-qrsep23akl

QR have retimed their arrival into AKL when the non stop returns on Sep 1st. I think it was 0415 before.

Looks like much better timings especially with AKL arrival time and still multiple connections from DOH to connect with that flight

mrkerr7474 wrote:

ZK-NBT wrote:

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230501-qrsep23akl

QR have retimed their arrival into AKL when the non stop returns on Sep 1st. I think it was 0415 before.

Looks like much better timings especially with AKL arrival time and still multiple connections from DOH to connect with that flight

Is QR going double daily to AKL?

In addition to the non-stop DOH-AKL flight, they're still selling the DOH-ADL-AKL flight, but with no local traffic on ADL-AKL.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230501-qrsep23akl

If this isn't a glitch and they are going double daily, that would be a bold play for sure, and I wonder how EK will react to this.

planemanofnz wrote:

mrkerr7474 wrote:

ZK-NBT wrote:

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230501-qrsep23akl

QR have retimed their arrival into AKL when the non stop returns on Sep 1st. I think it was 0415 before.

Looks like much better timings especially with AKL arrival time and still multiple connections from DOH to connect with that flight

Is QR going double daily to AKL?

In addition to the non-stop DOH-AKL flight, they're still selling the DOH-ADL-AKL flight, but with no local traffic on ADL-AKL.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230501-qrsep23akl

If this isn't a glitch and they are going double daily, that would be a bold play for sure, and I wonder how EK will react to this.

Given they currently sell ADL-AKL I would think it’s a glitch and will be removed shortly.

NZ516 wrote:

Today is 1st of May so I did a search of the Air NZ fleet of 106 aircraft and found 92 flying and14 not in service. So interesting that there is less flying than the school holidays period just finished and a fair amount of maintenance underway. Plus the schedules could be lower this month than in April.

77W -OKM
789 - NZE, NZI
320- NHF, OYA, OYC, OXB, OXK
ATR - MVD, MVP, MVZ, MZC
Q300 - NEA, NEG

It's normal to have less flying outside the school holiday peaks. You want all your assets in use during the busiest demand times which leaves the off peak for heavy maintenance.

anstar wrote:

NZ516 wrote:

Today is 1st of May so I did a search of the Air NZ fleet of 106 aircraft and found 92 flying and14 not in service. So interesting that there is less flying than the school holidays period just finished and a fair amount of maintenance underway. Plus the schedules could be lower this month than in April.

77W -OKM
789 - NZE, NZI
320- NHF, OYA, OYC, OXB, OXK
ATR - MVD, MVP, MVZ, MZC
Q300 - NEA, NEG

It's normal to have less flying outside the school holiday peaks. You want all your assets in use during the busiest demand times which leaves the off peak for heavy maintenance.

OKM is still in SIN for pre service maintenance.
NZI arrived ex PVG 01/05, scheduled to PVG 02/05.

ZK-NBT wrote:

anstar wrote:

NZ516 wrote:

Today is 1st of May so I did a search of the Air NZ fleet of 106 aircraft and found 92 flying and14 not in service. So interesting that there is less flying than the school holidays period just finished and a fair amount of maintenance underway. Plus the schedules could be lower this month than in April.

77W -OKM
789 - NZE, NZI
320- NHF, OYA, OYC, OXB, OXK
ATR - MVD, MVP, MVZ, MZC
Q300 - NEA, NEG

It's normal to have less flying outside the school holiday peaks. You want all your assets in use during the busiest demand times which leaves the off peak for heavy maintenance.

OKM is still in SIN for pre service maintenance.
NZI arrived ex PVG 01/05, scheduled to PVG 02/05.

Looks like NZI is in a short maintenance visit of 1 and a half day.

Auckland Airport will soon have a lot of services when all the planned routes have commenced by the end of the year. The city will have non stop services to an impressive 64 destinations by 28 airlines. With Air NZ serving the most at 46 made up of 16 domestic and 30 international. There is just the one domestic only airline serving namely Barrier Air with 3 routes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Airport

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/131 ... it-company

This is a great outcome to save this old Nelson Airport hangar from demolition. A private jet repair company will buy it for just $1 and repair it plus remove the asbestos. This will save it from being dismantled at a cost of $2 million for the airport company.

NZ516 wrote:

ZK-NBT wrote:

anstar wrote:

It's normal to have less flying outside the school holiday peaks. You want all your assets in use during the busiest demand times which leaves the off peak for heavy maintenance.

OKM is still in SIN for pre service maintenance.
NZI arrived ex PVG 01/05, scheduled to PVG 02/05.

Looks like NZI is in a short maintenance visit of 1 and a half day.

Probably an A check.

Finally - a new NZ uniform is in the works! 2025 roll-out.

... the airline has confirmed it is now inviting expressions of interest for a new designer to give it a wardrobe overhaul ... applications are open until Sunday, May 14, after which Air New Zealand will invite selected designers to be a part of a competitive pitch process ... The successful designer is to be announced later this year, and new designs rolled out in 2025.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/viva/fashion ... OMO2UHJIE/

CA783 ops by 789 B7832 arrived AKL at 1656 as the first CA service since March 2020.

After launching a Honiara-Vila-AKL service, Solomon Airlines has had to ground its only A320 due to fuel contamination.

https://sbm.sb/solomon-airlines-international-operations-disrupted-due-to-airbus-a320-grounding/?fbclid=IwAR1bHizfNKu3kRH3y-5QhXT8o6GEPBAWHT5_VJXaTS16zhWeWAzaAWUoqMY

mrkerr7474 wrote:

ZK-NBT wrote:

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230501-qrsep23akl

QR have retimed their arrival into AKL when the non stop returns on Sep 1st. I think it was 0415 before.

Looks like much better timings especially with AKL arrival time and still multiple connections from DOH to connect with that flight

Certainly better at the NZ end. Not sure about that from a Europe connections in DOH pov. From a quick scout around I can see only a handful of European destinations (LHR, CDG, MAD, MXP, SVO, plus MAN some days) with an early morning arrival into DOH, connecting nicely with the flight to AKL. Many of the remaining major European cities (e.g. FRA, VIE, FCO, BCN, GVA, ATH, MUC, ARN, CPH, OSL, HEL, AMS, BRU, DUB, EDI) have a flight which arrives DOH late evening, while the AKL flight now departs at 0820 - ouch. I guess they've done their homework and figure this is more workable. I guess people can get a transit room for the night. There are certainly a fair number of early morning arrivals into DOH from African / Middle Eastern and Central Asian destinations that connect nicely with the AKL flight. Anyhow, v pleased they are back to nonstop. Long may it last.

Motorhussy wrote:

After launching a Honiara-Vila-AKL service, Solomon Airlines has had to ground its only A320 due to fuel contamination.

https://sbm.sb/solomon-airlines-international-operations-disrupted-due-to-airbus-a320-grounding/?fbclid=IwAR1bHizfNKu3kRH3y-5QhXT8o6GEPBAWHT5_VJXaTS16zhWeWAzaAWUoqMY

First flight to AKL is scheduled for 5 June. Hopefully the fuel issues will be resolved by then.

https://m.solomontimes.com/news/direct- ... mons/12532

NZ321 wrote:

mrkerr7474 wrote:

ZK-NBT wrote:

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230501-qrsep23akl

QR have retimed their arrival into AKL when the non stop returns on Sep 1st. I think it was 0415 before.

Looks like much better timings especially with AKL arrival time and still multiple connections from DOH to connect with that flight

Certainly better at the NZ end. Not sure about that from a Europe connections in DOH pov. From a quick scout around I can see only a handful of European destinations (LHR, CDG, MAD, MXP, SVO, plus MAN some days) with an early morning arrival into DOH, connecting nicely with the flight to AKL. Many of the remaining major European cities (e.g. FRA, VIE, FCO, BCN, GVA, ATH, MUC, ARN, CPH, OSL, HEL, AMS, BRU, DUB, EDI) have a flight which arrives DOH late evening, while the AKL flight now departs at 0820 - ouch. I guess they've done their homework and figure this is more workable. I guess people can get a transit room for the night. There are certainly a fair number of early morning arrivals into DOH from African / Middle Eastern and Central Asian destinations that connect nicely with the AKL flight. Anyhow, v pleased they are back to nonstop. Long may it last.

That is changing later in the year with more frequencies on European routes, FRA and FCO will have a daily morning arrival into DOH. CPH will have on most days. 8hr+ connections get free hotels on most fares if there is no shorter connection available.

Pelly wrote:

NZ321 wrote:

mrkerr7474 wrote:

Looks like much better timings especially with AKL arrival time and still multiple connections from DOH to connect with that flight

Certainly better at the NZ end. Not sure about that from a Europe connections in DOH pov. From a quick scout around I can see only a handful of European destinations (LHR, CDG, MAD, MXP, SVO, plus MAN some days) with an early morning arrival into DOH, connecting nicely with the flight to AKL. Many of the remaining major European cities (e.g. FRA, VIE, FCO, BCN, GVA, ATH, MUC, ARN, CPH, OSL, HEL, AMS, BRU, DUB, EDI) have a flight which arrives DOH late evening, while the AKL flight now departs at 0820 - ouch. I guess they've done their homework and figure this is more workable. I guess people can get a transit room for the night. There are certainly a fair number of early morning arrivals into DOH from African / Middle Eastern and Central Asian destinations that connect nicely with the AKL flight. Anyhow, v pleased they are back to nonstop. Long may it last.

That is changing later in the year with more frequencies on European routes, FRA and FCO will have a daily morning arrival into DOH. CPH will have on most days. 8hr+ connections get free hotels on most fares if there is no shorter connection available.

Is any of it to do with aircraft availability? Hence retiming?

ZK-NBT wrote:

planemanofnz wrote:

mrkerr7474 wrote:

Looks like much better timings especially with AKL arrival time and still multiple connections from DOH to connect with that flight

Is QR going double daily to AKL?

In addition to the non-stop DOH-AKL flight, they're still selling the DOH-ADL-AKL flight, but with no local traffic on ADL-AKL.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230501-qrsep23akl

If this isn't a glitch and they are going double daily, that would be a bold play for sure, and I wonder how EK will react to this.

Given they currently sell ADL-AKL I would think it’s a glitch and will be removed shortly.

I did a dummy booking today AKL-EDI via DOH in Nov and return Dec. The flight departed AKL at 4pm local on the direct service to DOH and on the return the flight it is still listed as leaving DOH at 3am with a 5am AKL arrival.

They're removed the Adelaide part of that but the timings seem to be the old ones still?

mrkerr7474 wrote:

ZK-NBT wrote:

planemanofnz wrote:

Is QR going double daily to AKL?

In addition to the non-stop DOH-AKL flight, they're still selling the DOH-ADL-AKL flight, but with no local traffic on ADL-AKL.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230501-qrsep23akl

If this isn't a glitch and they are going double daily, that would be a bold play for sure, and I wonder how EK will react to this.

Given they currently sell ADL-AKL I would think it’s a glitch and will be removed shortly.

I did a dummy booking today AKL-EDI via DOH in Nov and return Dec. The flight departed AKL at 4pm local on the direct service to DOH and on the return the flight it is still listed as leaving DOH at 3am with a 5am AKL arrival.

They're removed the Adelaide part of that but the timings seem to be the old ones still?

It hasn’t updated for NW yet or they are changing back to the 0500 arrival. It’s shows non stop both ways.

Currently leaves DOH 2030 arrives AKL 0050 via ADL.

Personally I can’t see them going 2 daily, unless they use the ADL service for freight. Not sure what the bilateral is, how many services QR can operate to NZ and via where?

If EK need to I wonder if they would add an east coast OZ-AKL for freight? They seem to have stopped the A322 freight run via CGK, didn’t last long. The occasional EK 77F turns up from SYD usually.

Motorhussy wrote:

After launching a Honiara-Vila-AKL service, Solomon Airlines has had to ground its only A320 due to fuel contamination.

https://sbm.sb/solomon-airlines-international-operations-disrupted-due-to-airbus-a320-grounding/?fbclid=IwAR1bHizfNKu3kRH3y-5QhXT8o6GEPBAWHT5_VJXaTS16zhWeWAzaAWUoqMY

My word, Vanuatu can't seem to catch a break these days.

NZ516 wrote:

Motorhussy wrote:

After launching a Honiara-Vila-AKL service, Solomon Airlines has had to ground its only A320 due to fuel contamination.

https://sbm.sb/solomon-airlines-international-operations-disrupted-due-to-airbus-a320-grounding/?fbclid=IwAR1bHizfNKu3kRH3y-5QhXT8o6GEPBAWHT5_VJXaTS16zhWeWAzaAWUoqMY

First flight to AKL is scheduled for 5 June. Hopefully the fuel issues will be resolved by then.

https://m.solomontimes.com/news/direct- ... mons/12532

I understand Solomon Airlines are sourcing a second A320 from another carrier in the region to bring its fleet to 2 - can’t happen soon enough!

Motorhussy wrote:

After launching a Honiara-Vila-AKL service, Solomon Airlines has had to ground its only A320 due to fuel contamination.

https://sbm.sb/solomon-airlines-international-operations-disrupted-due-to-airbus-a320-grounding/?fbclid=IwAR1bHizfNKu3kRH3y-5QhXT8o6GEPBAWHT5_VJXaTS16zhWeWAzaAWUoqMY

Has there ever been any discussions about these Pacific Island airlines forming some sort of combined grouping/entity to get better economies of scale, operational simplicity etc etc? Or is that something that is perhaps too hard to land?

qf2220 wrote:

Motorhussy wrote:

After launching a Honiara-Vila-AKL service, Solomon Airlines has had to ground its only A320 due to fuel contamination.

https://sbm.sb/solomon-airlines-international-operations-disrupted-due-to-airbus-a320-grounding/?fbclid=IwAR1bHizfNKu3kRH3y-5QhXT8o6GEPBAWHT5_VJXaTS16zhWeWAzaAWUoqMY

Has there ever been any discussions about these Pacific Island airlines forming some sort of combined grouping/entity to get better economies of scale, operational simplicity etc etc? Or is that something that is perhaps too hard to land?

It's too hard as it is a matter of pride and, unfortunately, corruption. It does make sense though as, apart from Fiji Airways, none of the Pacific Islands carriers have anything approaching appropriate scale. Years ago, and I can't remember where, I think I read the initial plan for Air Pacific was for it to morph into a general South Pacific carrier. Obviously, it never happened and it rebranded as Fiji Airways.

Air Caledonie and Air Tahiti Nui are a bit different as these territories are supported dominions of France.

LAXPolaris wrote:

When is Air NZ going to remove the 10x weekly LAX-AKL down to 7x weekly?

Air NZ service LAX-AKL will most likely revert back to ten weekly during the period UA is not running their seasonal LAX-AKL flights eg from March to October to maintain seat capacity. Especially when the route is down to just Air NZ flying it during this time eg no DL and AA either.

NZ516 wrote:

LAXPolaris wrote:

When is Air NZ going to remove the 10x weekly LAX-AKL down to 7x weekly?

Air NZ service LAX-AKL will most likely revert back to ten weekly during the period UA is not running their seasonal LAX-AKL flights eg from March to October to maintain seat capacity. Especially when the route is down to just Air NZ flying it during this time eg no DL and AA either.

We don’t know yet, I expected UA to be daily LAX-AKL and NZ daily in NW. With UA 4x weekly, it is possible NZ keep 10x weekly and change days to allow 2x daily NZ/UA. NZ don’t usually confirm until July or so but I would expect some changes to start appearing shortly.

DL announced year round. Weather they keep it that way or reduce frequency remains to be seen.

ZK-NBT wrote:

NZ516 wrote:

LAXPolaris wrote:

When is Air NZ going to remove the 10x weekly LAX-AKL down to 7x weekly?

Air NZ service LAX-AKL will most likely revert back to ten weekly during the period UA is not running their seasonal LAX-AKL flights eg from March to October to maintain seat capacity. Especially when the route is down to just Air NZ flying it during this time eg no DL and AA either.

We don’t know yet, I expected UA to be daily LAX-AKL and NZ daily in NW. With UA 4x weekly, it is possible NZ keep 10x weekly and change days to allow 2x daily NZ/UA. NZ don’t usually confirm until July or so but I would expect some changes to start appearing shortly.

DL announced year round. Weather they keep it that way or reduce frequency remains to be seen.

Select days of the weeks having 3x services a day from a NZ/UA combo isn’t to much of the question.

NZ has operated LAX before with 3x services on peak days in the past, and this was with the 744 era.

zkncj wrote:

ZK-NBT wrote:

NZ516 wrote:

Air NZ service LAX-AKL will most likely revert back to ten weekly during the period UA is not running their seasonal LAX-AKL flights eg from March to October to maintain seat capacity. Especially when the route is down to just Air NZ flying it during this time eg no DL and AA either.

We don’t know yet, I expected UA to be daily LAX-AKL and NZ daily in NW. With UA 4x weekly, it is possible NZ keep 10x weekly and change days to allow 2x daily NZ/UA. NZ don’t usually confirm until July or so but I would expect some changes to start appearing shortly.

DL announced year round. Weather they keep it that way or reduce frequency remains to be seen.

Select days of the weeks having 3x services a day from a NZ/UA combo isn’t to much of the question.

NZ has operated LAX before with 3x services on peak days in the past, and this was with the 744 era.

Sure they did, it’s 14 weekly between NZ/UA as it stands 10x NZ, 4x UA, it’s just the second NZ service runs the exact same days as UA does, it wouldn’t be hard to move them to alternate days, you maybe end up with 3x LAX-AKL on 1 day and 1 on another but 2 each day the rest of the week.

NZ ran 19x weekly 744s AKL-LAX in 2003/04 NW, everything was through LAX back then though. 04/05 it was 14x AKL-LAX, 3x CHC-LAX, 3x AKL-SFO so 20 weekly 744s to LAX/SFO from AKL/CHC.

tullamarine wrote:

qf2220 wrote:

Motorhussy wrote:

After launching a Honiara-Vila-AKL service, Solomon Airlines has had to ground its only A320 due to fuel contamination.

https://sbm.sb/solomon-airlines-international-operations-disrupted-due-to-airbus-a320-grounding/?fbclid=IwAR1bHizfNKu3kRH3y-5QhXT8o6GEPBAWHT5_VJXaTS16zhWeWAzaAWUoqMY

Has there ever been any discussions about these Pacific Island airlines forming some sort of combined grouping/entity to get better economies of scale, operational simplicity etc etc? Or is that something that is perhaps too hard to land?

It's too hard as it is a matter of pride and, unfortunately, corruption. It does make sense though as, apart from Fiji Airways, none of the Pacific Islands carriers have anything approaching appropriate scale. Years ago, and I can't remember where, I think I read the initial plan for Air Pacific was for it to morph into a general South Pacific carrier. Obviously, it never happened and it rebranded as Fiji Airways.

Air Caledonie and Air Tahiti Nui are a bit different as these territories are supported dominions of France.

It would be awesome to see something with the caliber of Fiji Airways form from a grouping of all the smaller Pacific Island nations, but it will never happen. Pride, greed, corruption, self-interest, it would never work. Think Air Afrique et al. NZ would have a better chance of making it work setting up a low cost arm, branding as NZ Pacific or something, to try to whip the various interests into line, but I certainly wouldn't want to head thatdivision of the airline. Mind you, 20 or so A220's on the Island routes might work, as long as you had unconditional co-operation from the Islands.... Never mind, not gonna happen.

ZK-NBT wrote:

NZ516 wrote:

LAXPolaris wrote:

When is Air NZ going to remove the 10x weekly LAX-AKL down to 7x weekly?

Air NZ service LAX-AKL will most likely revert back to ten weekly during the period UA is not running their seasonal LAX-AKL flights eg from March to October to maintain seat capacity. Especially when the route is down to just Air NZ flying it during this time eg no DL and AA either.

We don’t know yet, I expected UA to be daily LAX-AKL and NZ daily in NW. With UA 4x weekly, it is possible NZ keep 10x weekly and change days to allow 2x daily NZ/UA. NZ don’t usually confirm until July or so but I would expect some changes to start appearing shortly.

DL announced year round. Weather they keep it that way or reduce frequency remains to be seen.

Is anyone expecting DL to actually maintain year round service? Given UA who has a partner and bigger presence in the market had to reduce SFO-AKL to 3x weekly this summer, downgauge to a 789, and loads still look pretty bad, I don't see how DL could possibly operate this year round.

I don't know the New Zealand market all that well, but it seems like it is a VERY seasonal market.

LAXPolaris wrote:

ZK-NBT wrote:

NZ516 wrote:

Air NZ service LAX-AKL will most likely revert back to ten weekly during the period UA is not running their seasonal LAX-AKL flights eg from March to October to maintain seat capacity. Especially when the route is down to just Air NZ flying it during this time eg no DL and AA either.

We don’t know yet, I expected UA to be daily LAX-AKL and NZ daily in NW. With UA 4x weekly, it is possible NZ keep 10x weekly and change days to allow 2x daily NZ/UA. NZ don’t usually confirm until July or so but I would expect some changes to start appearing shortly.

DL announced year round. Weather they keep it that way or reduce frequency remains to be seen.

Is anyone expecting DL to actually maintain year round service? Given UA who has a partner and bigger presence in the market had to reduce SFO-AKL to 3x weekly this summer, downgauge to a 789, and loads still look pretty bad, I don't see how DL could possibly operate this year round.

I don't know the New Zealand market all that well, but it seems like it is a VERY seasonal market.

Yes very much seasonal
All 3 (DL, AA, UA) LAX- AKL services are listed as seasonal with references:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Airport

I can't book DL in April 2024 but can in March 2024.

The only year round service is UA SFO-AKL and HA HNL- AKL.
So Air NZ will have the non stop AKL- LAX market to themselves after March 2024.

NZ516 wrote:

LAXPolaris wrote:

ZK-NBT wrote:

We don’t know yet, I expected UA to be daily LAX-AKL and NZ daily in NW. With UA 4x weekly, it is possible NZ keep 10x weekly and change days to allow 2x daily NZ/UA. NZ don’t usually confirm until July or so but I would expect some changes to start appearing shortly.

DL announced year round. Weather they keep it that way or reduce frequency remains to be seen.

Is anyone expecting DL to actually maintain year round service? Given UA who has a partner and bigger presence in the market had to reduce SFO-AKL to 3x weekly this summer, downgauge to a 789, and loads still look pretty bad, I don't see how DL could possibly operate this year round.

I don't know the New Zealand market all that well, but it seems like it is a VERY seasonal market.

All 3 (DL, AA, UA) LAX- AKL services are listed as seasonal with references:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Airport

The only year round service is UA SFO-AKL and HA HNL- AKL.
So Air NZ will have the non stop AKL- LAX market to themselves after March 2024.

Anyone can edit Wikipedia without having a shred of evidence, take anything on there with a grain of salt, whilst it's somewhat accurate it can be easily altered by anyone any time.

The only people that have actually said DL is seasonal is Anet, there has been nothing official from the airline to say it is and therefore it is reasonable to infer that until DL say otherwise, the intention is for it to operate year round. So yes you can count me as one of those people who thinks DL will operate year round.

As for the seasonality aspect, yes naturally the NW is generally the NZ peak travel season, however that doesn't mean demand just simply falls off a cliff and everything becomes unsustainable in the shoulder season and winter months, it doesn't.

A lot of effort is being put in by our tourism bodies, conference bodies etc to build out these shoulder periods and spread the demand and we have been seeing that begin to pay off, things like the Intl Convention Centre in Auckland along with the 2 other new centres in WLG and CHC will only help this space. AKL Airport a few years ago made mention that whilst the seasonal services are great the intention is to work with those partners to make them year round. Same principle applies to AC who earlier this year stated their ultimate intention is to move to year round and exploit their YVR hub.

Batik Air Malaysia May 2023 inflight magazine is showing a route map of two routes to AKL. One via Perth and one via Melbourne perhaps they will be future routes. They have aggressively expanded their own services to Australia recently.

https://twitter.com/aeroroutes/status/1 ... 37/photo/1

NPL8800 wrote:

NZ516 wrote:

LAXPolaris wrote:

Is anyone expecting DL to actually maintain year round service? Given UA who has a partner and bigger presence in the market had to reduce SFO-AKL to 3x weekly this summer, downgauge to a 789, and loads still look pretty bad, I don't see how DL could possibly operate this year round.

I don't know the New Zealand market all that well, but it seems like it is a VERY seasonal market.

All 3 (DL, AA, UA) LAX- AKL services are listed as seasonal with references:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Airport

The only year round service is UA SFO-AKL and HA HNL- AKL.
So Air NZ will have the non stop AKL- LAX market to themselves after March 2024.

Anyone can edit Wikipedia without having a shred of evidence, take anything on there with a grain of salt, whilst it's somewhat accurate it can be easily altered by anyone any time.

The only people that have actually said DL is seasonal is Anet, there has been nothing official from the airline to say it is and therefore it is reasonable to infer that until DL say otherwise, the intention is for it to operate year round. So yes you can count me as one of those people who thinks DL will operate year round.

As for the seasonality aspect, yes naturally the NW is generally the NZ peak travel season, however that doesn't mean demand just simply falls off a cliff and everything becomes unsustainable in the shoulder season and winter months, it doesn't.

A lot of effort is being put in by our tourism bodies, conference bodies etc to build out these shoulder periods and spread the demand and we have been seeing that begin to pay off, things like the Intl Convention Centre in Auckland along with the 2 other new centres in WLG and CHC will only help this space. AKL Airport a few years ago made mention that whilst the seasonal services are great the intention is to work with those partners to make them year round. Same principle applies to AC who earlier this year stated their ultimate intention is to move to year round and exploit their YVR hub.

Actually with Wikipedia anything without a reference is usually reverted very quickly by other people. Anyway if you can book DL to AKL after April that's good as I certainly could not.