Adelaide Joins New Look Air New Zealand Network

Media Release
26 March 2006

Adelaide Joins New Look Air New Zealand Network

Adelaide becomes the latest destination to join the expanding Air New Zealand network today with the launch of the airline’s new three times weekly Auckland-Adelaide service.

The Airbus A320 flight, carrying 146 passengers, will be greeted at Adelaide Airport’s new $260 million terminal with a water cannon salute and official welcome by descendants of four South Australian Aboriginal clans groups: the Kaurna, Narrungga, Ngarrindjeri, and Adnyamathanha people.

Adelaide will also be the first Air New Zealand port to preview the airline’s new frontline uniform, designed by leading New Zealand fashion house Zambesi, with a synchronised global changeover to be staged tomorrow across Air New Zealand’s network of 5,000 frontline staff at 50 ports around the world.

Air New Zealand’s refreshed branding with a new corporate colour palette, will also be launched on Monday.

Passengers on NZ221 from Auckland to Adelaide will literally see the new uniform unveiled before their eyes when crew changeover mid-flight to execute a unique up-in-the-air fashion parade.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer, Rob Fyfe who travels to Adelaide on the inaugural service, said it was appropriate today’s Auckland-Adelaide flight be the stage for the uniform reveal.

“Auckland and Adelaide are the oldest and newest ports respectively on the Air New Zealand network, so it’s fitting that we bring the old in with the new on this occasion,” Mr Fyfe said.

“Support for this new service has been excellent, with strong forward bookings from both sides of the Tasman. We are confident that customers will continue to take the opportunity to travel somewhere different and in turn boost the economies of Adelaide and Auckland.”

Jane Wilson, NZ regional manager, South Australian Tourism Commission comments, “This new service introduces Adelaide as a new gateway to Australia. Adelaide is an elegant city that offers visitors a feast of culture, heritage, wine and food and has all the conveniences of a big city without the frustrations.”

Guests on the first flight into Adelaide include Christchurch City Mayor Mr Garry Moore and the Hon. Dr Lockwood Smith, MP for Rodney, as well as representatives from the South Australian Tourism Commission.

Conversely a special South Australian delegation will fly out on the return flight to Auckland, NZ222, today including South Australian Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy, The Hon. Patrick Conlon; and Chairman of the South Australian Tourism Commission Phil Hoffmann as well as key travel trade figures.

Air New Zealand is the first new carrier to establish services at the new $260 million Adelaide Airport Terminal opened officially last year.

The airline will operate three direct flights a week between Adelaide and Auckland on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays contributing more than 43,000 passenger seats on the route.

The schedule provides for travel during customer-friendly daylight hours - as follows:

26 March – 1 April*

NZ221 Depart AKL 08.05 am / Arrive ADL 11.25 am
NZ222 Depart ADL 12.30 pm / Arrive AKL 6.10 pm

* Week of daylight saving changeover

2 April – onwards

NZ221 Depart AKL 08.05 am / Arrive ADL 10.25 am
NZ222 Depart ADL 11.30 am / Arrive AKL 6.10 pm

The new service also has excellent connections with Air New Zealand’s direct services between Auckland and Los Angeles as well as San Francisco, creating one of the shortest travel times for customers between Adelaide and the USA.

The flights will also provide access to Air New Zealand’s extensive domestic network of 25 New Zealand destinations.

ENDS

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