National carrier Air New Zealand has announced it is boosting capacity between Auckland and two of its popular destinations later this year.
The Los Angeles and Seoul routes are adding an additional 21,200 seats between them due to pent up demand from customers travelling in both directions..
Between 15 August and 29 October 2022, Air New Zealand will increase frequency between Auckland and Los Angeles from seven to ten services per week on its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft to complement its daily Boeing 777 service.
Services between Auckland and Seoul will increase from one per week to two a week between 12 September and 24 October 2022 and will operate on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
"With the New Zealand border fully opened and the reduction in Covid travel restrictions, customers are telling us they’re ready to travel," said Air New Zealand chief customer sales officer Leanne Geraghty.
'With the return of international tourism, these additional flights will give customers more options and opportunities to experience the joy of travel once again.
"The extra capacity will add 33 percent more seats on the Los Angeles route each week and double that on Seoul. This extra capacity will ensure we meet the growing demand we've been seeing for travel over the last month."
The airline has been ramping up flights recently, with the relaunch of 14 international routes in 16 days.
From July 9, it will have three quarters of its international and domestic routes back up and running, including popular destinations like Honolulu, Houston and Tahiti.
They are restarting after around 820 days of not operating due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
That would take its international capacity back above 60 percent for the first time in two years.
"We've hired or rehired more than 2000 Air New Zealanders across the business including 150 pilots, more than 500 cabin crew, and 270 airport employees, with another 1100 vacancies to be filled," Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran said.
"It's no easy feat but we're getting back to where we were so we can give our customers that Air New Zealand service they know and love."
