Air New Zealand has backed its Auckland New York service in the face of local media speculation that it could be a candidate to be axed and with one overseas report already saying it had been suspended.
While the airline has said its entire network is being looked at as part of a wide-ranging review, its North American operation has so far been spared from cutbacks now in place for six weeks. About 1100 flights are suspended for the six-week period in response to soaring fuel prices, with most keeping regional services.
NZ’s gm long haul Kylie McGillivray-Brown told Travel Today that feedback from North American customers consistently highlights the benefit of that direct link, and the route also provides Kiwi travellers with a gateway to Europe.
The airline has designed its fleet around the route which is a key part of its North American strategy and more Kiwis are now travelling through the US following the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
She says two new Boeing 787-9 aircraft the airline will get later this month will be specifically configured for ultra-long-haul flying. “These aircraft will further strengthen the performance of the route.”
The new 787-9 will have more premium seats and the carrier’s innovative Skynest sleeping pods, available for economy passengers for a set timed period.
. . . Load Constraints
NZ started its non-stop AKL-JFK in 2022 but the flights face passenger load constraints on the westbound return journey, which can take 17 hours, because of prevailing head winds.
Fuel costs, and possible fuel shortages, will be putting further pressure on the route for NZ. The airline was facing full-year losses, even before the Middle East war broke out.
But it will be reluctant to scale back in the US given the resources put into building that market. While travel by Kiwis to the US has fallen sharply during the last year, Americans are visiting this country in record numbers with just under 400,000 arrivals in 2025. In its half-year results, NZ reported 10% premium revenue growth on North American routes.
