Continental Airlines Code Share Tourism Boost
Air New Zealand – Continental Airlines Code Share an added Tourism Boost
Air New Zealand and
Continental Airlines have today commenced a reciprocal code
share agreement, making travel to New Zealand easier and
more convenient for Americans from some of the most populous
states in the USA.
Air New Zealand will code share on more than 540 flights per week to and from Continental Airline’s main hubs serving Houston, New York and Cleveland connecting to Air New Zealand services to and from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Auckland.
Continental Airlines will code share on these Air New Zealand trans-Pacific services, including the services via Rarotonga, Apia and Tonga, as well as all Auckland trans-Tasman and domestic New Zealand services and also between Auckland and Hong Kong.
“This presents exciting inbound tourism opportunities for New Zealand, especially when you consider Continental is the world’s fifth largest airline,” says Air New Zealand Group General Manager Ed Sims.
“Air New Zealand will be code sharing on services including to and from Continental’s main base in Houston – the second largest state in the USA with a population of more than 25 million people.
“There were 198,000 visitors from the USA to New Zealand in the 12 months to February 2010, with just 10,000 from Texas and 11,000 from New York State, so this new arrangement provides plenty of growth potential.
“The new code share also provides excellent options for Kiwis wanting to travel to the East Coast of the USA, with very convenient connection times to a range of Continental Airlines flights.”
The code share will compliment existing arrangements with fellow Star Alliance partners United Airlines and US Airways and brings access to parts of the USA not previously available with current partners.
ENDS