Auckland Airport builds on Asia success strategy

Auckland Airport builds on Asia success strategy

New Taipei service announced by China Airlines, and an increase in capacity from Malaysia Airlines

Auckland Airport is pleased to announce that results from its increased focus on key Asian growth markets are gaining further momentum, with China Airlines announcing that it will commence air-services to Taipei in January 2011, and Malaysia Airlines announcing an additional service to Kuala Lumpur starting in March 2011.

Auckland Airport chief executive, Simon Moutter said, “Growth in trade and tourism is critical to New Zealand, and it is important that we continue to attract a stronger share of growth market tourism, especially out of Asia.

“New Zealand is now more connected with Asia than ever before. We now have increased connections between Auckland and Malaysia and brand new connections with Taiwan. These services are in addition to the new Jetstar Auckland to Singapore services starting in March 2011, the additional Asian capacity from Auckland added over the last 6 months by other airlines including Air New Zealand, Thai Airways, and Korean Air and the recent decision of Air Asia X to commence services to Christchurch. We’ve come a long way in the last 12 months, but Auckland Airport is far from finished delivering growth for New Zealand tourism.”

Glenn Wedlock, Auckland Airport’s general manager aeronautical business development said, “These additional Asian connections offer travellers a lot more options and access to airline networks, especially to the high growth markets of South East Asia, China and India. These initiatives will help drive New Zealand tourism growth.”

Mr Wedlock also noted, “Our strategic alliance with Queenstown Airport has also been a significant factor in our air-services development success. With our airport partnerships we can offer airlines greater flexibility and itineraries, and our ability to influence their route decisions is greater. We are working with our airline customers and travel industry partners to incentivise more overseas visitors arriving at Auckland to fly onto Queenstown as New Zealand’s premier tourism destination.”

Malaysia Airlines, which celebrated 20 years of service to Auckland last year, will increase its frequency of service to Auckland by approximately 30,000 seats per annum or 1 service per week to a total of 6 services a week. Innovatively, instead of serving Auckland at the same time every day of service, it will split its schedule, therefore allowing passengers to choose between its vast onward connections.

The increased Kuala Lumpur service offers a very modern B777-200 aircraft, meals and baggage plus a 20kg allowance, and, unlike low-cost carrier connections, a fast-train connection to downtown KL within walking distance from the arrival gate.

Mr Moutter said, “The other fantastic news is that from January next year, following a nearly 10 year absence, China Airlines is returning to the New Zealand market, flying 3 times a week from Taipei to Auckland via Brisbane. This adds a further 95,000 seats per annum to this high growth market.”

China Airlines will depart from Auckland on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The flights will be operated by the airline’s Airbus A330-300 aircraft with a two-class configuration. Flights will offer full meal, baggage and in-flight entertainment options. The new flights will provide convenient connections to many of China Airline’s destinations across Asia, including mainland China, Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Auckland Airport has been working alongside Tourism New Zealand and representatives of the New Zealand Government in Taiwan for over a year to secure the re-entry of China Airlines to the New Zealand market. Mr Wedlock said, “Taiwan is a high growth potential market for New Zealand, and has recently benefited from a change in visa policy that has enabled easier travel by Taiwanese to New Zealand, which has had a positive impact on arrival numbers.”

”With a large migrant community in New Zealand, we believe a new service to Taiwan will be a great success and will help open up more of Asia to New Zealand.”

The China Airlines and Malaysia Airlines announcements, coupled with the earlier Jetstar Singapore initiatives and expanded services by other airlines over the past 12 months or so, mean the number of seats offered on Asian routes connecting with Auckland Airport is set to increase by around 375,000 per annum, an increase of about 16% over 2010 levels.

Ends

© Scoop Media