Where Is Air New Zealand Flying Its 6 Airbus A320neos?

Air New Zealand

, the flag carrier for the small Pacific Island nation of New Zealand, is renowned for its unique Kiwi experience for any onboard passenger. The airline operates a robust network of flights from its home at Auckland International Airport

(AKL) but also maintains operating bases from Wellington (WLG) and Christchurch (CHC).

Taking to the skies with Air New Zealand

The Star Alliance member, which calls Auckland home, flies to many long-haul destinations around the Pacific Rim with its fleet of widebody aircraft. The airline has several Boeing 787-9 and 777-300ER aircraft and connects New Zealand’s regions with its fleet of Q300, ATR 72, and Airbus A320ceo aircraft. But what about the carrier’s short-haul network with the ultra-modern Airbus A320neo?

Air New Zealand has six A320neos in its fleet, configured in an all-economy layout (total 165 seats). These seats have a seat pitch of around 29 to 24 inches; however, if you are looking for extra legroom, the airline ‘Space+ Seats’ are in rows 3-9 (ABC) and 2-6 (DEF). Of the six in operation, their details are below as per ch-aviation:

Understanding Air New Zealand’s trans-Tasman network

New Zealand is home to roughly five million residents, with around a quarter of them residing in Auckland, the country’s largest city. This is where Air New Zealand naturally has the largest network and the only current airport where it operates long-haul flights. However, this has not limited the carrier to service several trans-Tasman flights from Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown.

Visiting the ‘Coolest Little Capital’ (Wellington)

Wellington, the nation’s capital, is located at the southerly point of the country’s North Island and is frequently referred to as the ‘Coolest Little Capital’ in the world, with a population of nearly half a million people. For Air New Zealand, the airline deploys its Airbus A320neo to connect the capital to both Sydney and Melbourne, where this February, the carrier will operate the flight 26 and 25 times, respectively, according to Cirium. This represents nearly nine thousand seats from the capital and, when combined, almost 13 million available seat miles.

It’s worth noting that Air New Zealand operates direct services to Brisbane

from Wellington and competes head-to-head with Australian flag carrier Qantas on all routes mentioned using the Boeing 737-800

. The only other international services from Wellington are Jetstar’s service to sunshine and beaches of the Gold Coast (Airbus A320) and multiple weekly services to Nadi, Fiji, with Fiji Airways Boeing 737-800.

Queenstown’s iconic peaks and shimmering waters

Down south, Queenstown is undoubtedly one of the jewels in the New Zealand tourism crown. The region is a mecca for natural wonders and is home to the Remarkable Range, Coronet Peak, and Lake Wakatipu.

Access to Central Otago is made easier with Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia, all operating at Queenstown International Airport (ZQN), an airport known for its intricate approach. Air New Zealand’s shiny new Airbus A320neo will be featured several times this February, operating the popular link to Sydney and Melbourne. In February, there will be 13 services to Melbourne (3.25 on average per week) and 17 (4.25 on average per week) for Sydney. Details on the weekly schedule are below:

Return flight details between Queenstown and Sydney

Return flight details between Queenstown and Melbourne

What makes Air New Zealand’s international flights to and from Queenstown unique is that they commence the rotation from Australia first, before arriving in New Zealand, and then return. This is because Queenstown is not an A320 base for the airline; instead, it deploys its crew to operate from other New Zealand ports first.

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A320neo’s visiting the Garden City (Christchurch)

Christchurch International Airport, the second busiest airport in the country and the second only to Auckland that can accommodate the Airbus A380 (which is greeted by the Emirates A380 daily on a Dubai – Sydney – Christchurch routing) is a bustling airport as the primary gateway for New Zealand’s South Island. The airport, located just 20 minutes from the city center, is a hotspot for international arrivals. Not only does Emirates frequent the airports with long-haul flights, but also year-round services with Singapore Airlines to Singapore and seasonal services with China Southern (Guangzhou), Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong), and United Airlines (San Francisco).

Short-haul international services at Christchurch are cared for by:

Air New Zealand

• Brisbane
• Gold Coast
• Melbourne
• Sydney

Emirates

• Sydney (and onwards to Dubai with the A380)

Fiji Airways

Jetstar

• Cairns (from April 2)
• Gold Coast
• Melbourne

Qantas

• Brisbane
• Melbourne
• Sydney

Presence of the Air New Zealand A320neo at Christchurch

Air New Zealand will deploy its A320neo this February on all four of its international trans-Tasman routes at Christchurch. Brisbane, however, will see the A320neo operate just once, as the route is upscaled to the A321neo for its service.

The airline’s other routes, to Melbourne, Gold Coast, and Sydney, all witness the A320neo multiple times, as outlined below:

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All bound for Auckland

Auckland, the airline’s largest and busiest hub, is home to the carrier’s long-haul network and headquarters. Air New Zealand operates to more Australian destinations from Auckland than any other carrier; however, it competes head-to-head with Qantas and Jetstar on main trunkline routes (such as Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne). On many services, Air New Zealand has upscaled aircraft to widebody on some services to Australia’s larger cities; however, this February, the Air New Zealand A320neo will operate the below frequencies:

• Adelaide
  • 17 rotations (four weekly)
  • 2,805 seats (5,680,125 ASMs)
• Brisbane
  • One rotation
  • 165 seats (235,620 ASMs)
• Hobart
  • Seven rotations (two weekly)
  • 1,155 seats (1,729,035 ASMs)
• Melbourne
  • 25 rotations (six weekly)
  • 4,125 seats (6,781,500 ASMs)

Source: Airbus

• Gold Coast
  • Seven rotations (two weekly)
  • 1,155 seats (1,729,035 ASMs)
• Sydney
  • 16 rotations (four weekly)
  • 2,640 seats (3,550,800 ASMs)

Heading further afield with the Airbus A320neo

Air New Zealand will also utilize the A320neo for services to the Pacific Islands this February, with services to Nadi International Airport (NAN) – Fiji, Apia Faleolo International Airport (APW) – Samoa, and Nuku’alofa Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU) – Tonga, getting the royal treatment.

Flying high to Fiji – One rotation this February

Many love Fiji and travelers from New Zealand are no different. However, Air New Zealand will send its A320neo just once to Nadi International Airport (NAN) this February, equating to just 165 seats in each direction. The route, which is served by other aircraft in the Air New Zealand fleet, faces direct competition from Fiji Airways, which also deploys narrow and widebody aircraft.

With just one rotation and a distance of 1,336 miles point to point, this equates to 220,440 ASMs with the Air New Zealand A320neo.

Soaking up the sun in Tonga – Two weekly rotations

The larger of the two international airports in Tonga (the other being Vava’u), Air New Zealand operates multiple weekly flights to and from Auckland. As per many other Pacific Island nations, arrivals at Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU) are met with music and dance by locals. Frequently, Air New Zealand uses its larger widebody fleet to serve the route, but on select days, it uses narrowbody aircraft.

Air New Zealand will utilize its A320neo this February to connect Auckland to Tonga eight times, representing two weekly. With 165 seats onboard, this means 330 weekly seats on the aircraft type and 1,640,760 available seat miles. The only other international services to Tonga are those of Qantas (Sydney to TBU) and Fiji Airways (Nadi to TBU and Nadi to Vava’u).

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Beaches and culture in Samoa – One weekly rotation

While Air New Zealand operates in many Pacific Island nations, this February, the A320neo will serve just three: Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa. Apia’s Faleolo International Airport (APW) is 25 miles west of Apia. Air New Zealand will send its A320neo to Apia four times this February, equating to one per week.

At a distance of 1,792 miles, as the crow flies from Auckland to Apia, the four A320neo services result in 1,182,720 available seat miles between the two airports. Air New Zealand is one of the more frequent international carriers in Apia; however, it faces indirect competition from Fiji Airways (Honolulu and Nadi), Qantas (Brisbane), and Virgin Australia (Brisbane).