Air New Zealand launches low fare to boost Japanese arrivals

Media release

18 February 2014

Air New Zealand launches low fare to boost Japanese arrivals

Air New Zealand today launches a major campaign to attract Japanese travellers to New Zealand, teaming up with Tourism New Zealand to entice travellers between April and October. 

The campaign, being pushed through digital and print platforms, targets both senior nature lovers and young adventurers with a lead in fare from ¥75,000 including taxes and surcharges for return travel to New Zealand, a discount of more than 30 percent on the standard lead in fare level.

Air New Zealand’s General Manager Japan, Scott Carr, says Japan remains New Zealand’s fifth largest source of international visitors with more than three percent growth in 2013.

“Japanese tourists are some of New Zealand’s highest spending visitors and encouraging more to travel to New Zealand has benefits for both the airline and the country’s tourism industry.

“The airline has an ambitious target to double visitation from Japan by 2019.  We’re focused on growing year round traffic and working with trade partners to develop attractive seasonal product and pricing to achieve this”.

The airline works closely with Tourism New Zealand within the Japanese market and last year formalised this by signing a joint marketing MoU aimed at encouraging increased visitation.

Nick Mudge, Tourism New Zealand’s Regional Manager Japan says demand over the peak New Zealand summer months has been extremely strong, and the two organisations are working together to extend that high interest into the traditionally quieter shoulder season period.

“Interest in a New Zealand holiday is on the up at the moment and with The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug launching in Japan late February, we are confident that interest and preference will only increase.

“This campaign is perfectly timed to take advantage of New Zealand’s high profile with both the traditional Japanese traveller and the ‘young adventurer’ segment that we have been targeting together over the past months.”

Air New Zealand currently operates daily return services between Narita and Auckland, with capacity set to increase from November 2014, with the progressive introduction of 787-9 operated services on this route. 

Fares can be accessed via the Air New Zealand website www.airnewzealand.co.jp .

ENDS

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