Comfortable cruise to Tokyo to be a reality - Stuff

The tourism industry is welcoming Air New Zealand's announcement that its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft will fly to the key long-haul destinations of Shanghai and Tokyo.

Air New Zealand is the launch customer for the 787-9, the stretch version of the Dreamliner, which is due to roll off the production line at Boeing's Seattle plant next month.

The national carrier expects to have the first of its 10 new 787-9s flying by the middle of next year, with the rest in operation over the following three years.

The airline has said the Dreamliner will be a game-changer, opening up the prospect of expanding its network of routes around the Pacific Rim.

Yesterday it announced the new fuel-efficient aircraft would fly Auckland-Shanghai and Auckland-Tokyo, and also service some mid-haul destinations such as Perth, Honolulu and Papeete.

Tourism Industry Association policy and research manager Simon Wallace said China was a key growth market for New Zealand, with Chinese visitor numbers up 27 per cent in the past year.

The Japanese market was also recovering well from the slump following the 2011 tsunami.

"It's good Air New Zealand has focused the new aircraft on where the growth is coming from," he said. "It's all about a superior visitor experience."

Putting the Dreamliner on these routes with its four seat classes - Business Premier, Premium Economy, Economy and the Kiwi-designed Skycouch - demonstrated New Zealand's commitment to attracting high-value Chinese travellers.

It will be the first time the Skycouch has been available on routes into Asia, Air New Zealand said. "It just helps to give us that competitive advantage, which we really need," Wallace said.

Air New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand have just signed a one-year partnership to spend $10 million each jointly promoting travel to this country in selected key markets, including China, Japan, North America and Australia.

This year Air New Zealand began operating daily return services to Tokyo and Shanghai in response to strong demand.

- ? Fairfax NZ News

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Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/8840995/Comfortable-cruise-to-Tokyo-to-be-a-reality

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