Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand’s trans-Tasman romance is set to be reignited following authorisation of a new codeshare agreement by Australian and New Zealand regulators.

Air New Zealand is launching new non-stop flights between Auckland and New York JFK commencing 17 September 2022.Subject to regulatory approvals, the Kiwi-carrier will operate the route three times per week on a year-round basis, using specially configured Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.Such is the significance of the route, Air New Zealand has dedicated its flight numbers NZ1 (JFK-AKL) and NZ2 (AKL-JFK) for the return New York flights.

The Australian and Tasmanian Governments will bankroll the relaunch of nonstop international flights to Hobart from January 2021.

New York City tourism officials have forecast visitor numbers from Australia to rise moderately in 2020, despite a struggling Australian dollar. NYC & Company senior brass were in the country last week as part of the Visit USA National tour, using the event to host a number of break-out functions of their own in Brisbane and Sydney.

Air New Zealand has revealed it will shelve its direct Los Angeles-London service in preference of a new non-stop operation between Auckland and New York, starting October 2020. The new ultra-long-haul route will be operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

Air New Zealand has committed to the purchase of eight Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft. The -10 fitted with General Electric engines will be delivered from late 2022 through to 2027, and complements Air New Zealand’s existing fleet of 13 787-9 Dreamliners. The larger variation has capacity for an additional 40 seats.

Air Canada is adding new, non-stop, seasonal flights between Auckland and Vancouver, Canada. Air Canada’s flights to Vancouver will operate four times weekly onboard the carrier’s state-of-the-art flagship Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft beginning 14 December, 2019 until the end of March 2020, subject to obtaining the necessary government approvals.

Air New Zealand commenced services on its newest international route between Auckland and Chicago last Friday afternoon. Flight NZ26 departed at 5:01pm local time in Auckland and landed in Chicago at 12:11pm local time in Chicago. With a flight time of approximately 15 hours northbound (and just over 16 hours southbound), the flight is Air New Zealand’s longest, taking over from Auckland-Houston which has a flight time of 13.5 hours.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has insisted Washington approve a bid by Qantas and American Airlines to expand and strengthen their existing codeshare arrangement, saying failure to do so will be “injurious” to those airlines, consumers and competition.

Brand USA, in partnership with Air New Zealand, arranged six itineraries for the 2018 “Backstage USA” MegaFam, which took place 16–25 August 2018 and allowed 60 travel agents from Australia and New Zealand to experience the United States.

Brand USA and Air New Zealand have revealed the 30 Australian travel agents who have secured highly sought-after positions on the 2018 USA MegaFam, the largest ever trade famil to depart Australia and New Zealand for the United States.

To celebrate the launch of Brand USA and Air New Zealand’s MegaFam incentive where Australian travel agents can win an exciting music-themed ticket for seven nights in the USA, Brand USA and Air New Zealand has embarked on a road show with five agent training events in Australia.