Air China expands international network

Air China has unveiled plans to launch several new international services, including an alliance with Air New Zealand.

The Beijing-based carrier will launch a new daily direct service to Auckland as part of the partnership with the Kiwi national carrier. Air China will also continue to codeshare on Air New Zealand’s daily Shanghai-Auckland service, which will be operated exclusively by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from late August 2015.

“We are committed to working with our Star Alliance partner Air New Zealand to provide better air connectivity between China and New Zealand in order to meet the growing demand from travellers in both markets,” said Air China’s CEO, Song Zhiyong.

“The proposed alliance with Air New Zealand allows both flag carriers to build a sustainable air service between Beijing and Auckland and supplement the existing connectivity between China and New Zealand. This service, along with Air New Zealand’s Shanghai-Auckland service, will provide greater benefits to travellers in both countries in the coming years.”

Meanwhile, Air China has also announced plans to launch a new route to Melbourne and more trans-Pacific flights to Los Angeles.

The Beijing-Melbourne route will commence on 1 June 2015, operating four times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays) using an Airbus A330-200 aircraft. This will take the total number of weekly Air China flights to Australia to 23.

And finally, Air China will add more flights to its existing Beijing-LA route. Effective 2 May, the airline will increase the frequency of the route by four weekly flights (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays). And from 1 July to 24 October 2015, the extra flights will rise to daily. All the new services will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Currently, Air China operates 104 weekly flights to six destinations in the US: New York, LA, Houston, San Francisco, Washington DC and Honolulu.