NEW ZEALAND-Air New Zealand will operate seven charter flights to Japan this summer. Between 25 January and 14 March 2012 the airline will operate a weekly charter service into Auckland from Nagoya, Fukuoka or Kagoshima, using a 230-seat Boeing 767-300 aircraft.
Air New Zealand General Manager Japan Ed Overy said the seven charters are already selling well.
“For obvious reasons the Japanese market has been in decline since March this year. Together with Tourism New Zealand, we have been working hard to return the market to growth,” said Overy.
“This summer’s charter flights are less than the dozen we ran last summer but more than we had the year before that, and reflect the renewed optimism we are seeing in the outbound market from Japan following the recent reintroduction of direct services into Christchurch last month and also the resumption of regular Boeing 777-200 services,” he added.
Japan is New Zealand’s fifth-largest tourist market, contributing 74,400 international arrivals for the year ending October 2011.
Overy added that Air New Zealand has been focusing on generating demand from new tourists in key regions across Japan, with four charter flights to operate from Nagoya, two from Fukuoka and one from Kagoshima.
“Part of our market strategy has been to broaden our reach by offering direct air connections to New Zealand from regional airports within Japan, where we are observing some good demand,” he said.
Nine Japanese travel companies are involved in selling the charter services - JTB, Club Tourism, Meitetsu World Travel, Nokyo Tourist Corp, Kinki Nippon Tourist, Hankyu Express, Nishitesu Travel, Nangoku Kotsu and Miyuazaki Kotsu.
Air New Zealand’s regular Japan schedule includes three direct weekly flights from Tokyo to Christchurch and then on to Auckland, along with three weekly flights between Tokyo and Auckland, and four between Osaka and Auckland.
Air New Zealand General Manager Japan Ed Overy said the seven charters are already selling well.
“For obvious reasons the Japanese market has been in decline since March this year. Together with Tourism New Zealand, we have been working hard to return the market to growth,” said Overy.
“This summer’s charter flights are less than the dozen we ran last summer but more than we had the year before that, and reflect the renewed optimism we are seeing in the outbound market from Japan following the recent reintroduction of direct services into Christchurch last month and also the resumption of regular Boeing 777-200 services,” he added.
Japan is New Zealand’s fifth-largest tourist market, contributing 74,400 international arrivals for the year ending October 2011.
Overy added that Air New Zealand has been focusing on generating demand from new tourists in key regions across Japan, with four charter flights to operate from Nagoya, two from Fukuoka and one from Kagoshima.
“Part of our market strategy has been to broaden our reach by offering direct air connections to New Zealand from regional airports within Japan, where we are observing some good demand,” he said.
Nine Japanese travel companies are involved in selling the charter services - JTB, Club Tourism, Meitetsu World Travel, Nokyo Tourist Corp, Kinki Nippon Tourist, Hankyu Express, Nishitesu Travel, Nangoku Kotsu and Miyuazaki Kotsu.
Air New Zealand’s regular Japan schedule includes three direct weekly flights from Tokyo to Christchurch and then on to Auckland, along with three weekly flights between Tokyo and Auckland, and four between Osaka and Auckland.
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