- Air New Zealand will start a new nonstop service between Auckland and Newark Liberty International Airport, United States from October 29, 2020.
- It will be the first-ever direct flight between New Zealand and New York. The airline will operate the service three times per week throughout the year.
- The new service will strengthen the association between Air New Zealand and United Airlines.
- Air New Zealand will deploy its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft to serve the route.
- “Our non-stop flight will cut travel time by around three hours, putting New Zealand in easy reach of New York and the US Eastern Seaboard. It’s terrific we can make a seamless journey a reality for Kiwis wanting to experience New York and Americans keen to explore New Zealand and we’ll work with United to grow the route and visitor numbers in both directions,” Air New Zealand Acting Chief Executive Officer Jeff McDowall said.
- Air New Zealand is redesigning its widebody fleet with a new, comfort-led product for the Economy class that will provide more legroom than standard Economy seats. The 35-inch pitch seat will offer extra comfort to passengers on long-haul flights from late 2020. Amenities will also include a ‘premium headset’ and pillows.
PRESS RELEASE
The new service deepens the alliance between Air New Zealand and United Airlines and follows Air New Zealand’s successful launch of non-stop flights to United’s hub in Chicago in November 2018.
Air New Zealand will fly the route three times weekly, year-round, under its flagship flight numbers NZ1 southbound and NZ2 northbound. The service will be operated by Air New Zealand’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft in its latest, premium-focused configuration.
From its East Coast gateway at Newark Liberty International Airport, United Airlines operates more than 400 daily flights across the United States. The new service between Auckland and Newark will also provide customers with convenient onward connections to more than 90 destinations across the United States.
New York is one of the most exciting cities in the world with its iconic landmarks, galleries, museums, Broadway shows and food scene placing it top of many travellers’ bucket lists.
“Our non-stop flight will cut travel time by around three hours, putting New Zealand in easy reach of New York and the US Eastern Seaboard,” says Air New Zealand Acting Chief Executive Officer Jeff McDowall. “It’s terrific we can make a seamless journey a reality for Kiwis wanting to experience New York and Americans keen to explore New Zealand and we’ll work with United to grow the route and visitor numbers in both directions.”
United’s strong, strategic alliance and partnership with Air New Zealand provides our customers with more options to travel between the United States and New Zealand than any other airline in the world and we are proud to partner on this first ever non-stop service connecting New Zealand with our hub at Newark Liberty International Airport,” says John Gebo, United’s senior vice president of Alliances. “We are excited to offer our shared customers another option when planning travel to beautiful New Zealand while conveniently connecting visitors to more than 90 destinations across the United States with just one-stop connections at our New York hub.”
Air New Zealand’s new flights to New York go on sale in November 2019. Flight time is expected to be 15 hours 40 minutes northbound and 17 hours 40 minutes southbound.
The Auckland-New York schedule from 29 October 2020 is as follows:
| Flight No. | Operated by | Aircraft | Departs | Arrives | Frequency |
| NZ2 | Air New Zealand | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | Auckland 19:55 | Newark, New York 17:35 | Mon, Thur, Sat |
| NZ1 | Air New Zealand | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | Newark, New York 19:05 | Auckland 06:45 + 2 days | Mon, Thur, Sat |
Flights will arrive into and depart from Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport.
The above timings are subject to approvals and will vary with daylight saving time.
Note to editors:
Air New Zealand will operate its 787-9 ‘Code 2’ aircraft to New York. This aircraft has a 275-seat configuration with a higher proportion of Business Premier and Premium Economy seating
The airline’s new Economy Stretch legroom product, and its innovative Economy Skycouch experience will be available on the Auckland-New York route
New York will be Air New Zealand’s sixth US destination. Air New Zealand also serves Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago and Hawaii
The route is subject to final regulatory approvals and crewing agreements
