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Air New Zealand is ramping up its North America services from Auckland later this year.
The Kiwi carrier will add more than 34,000 extra seats between Auckland and North America from October 2025 to March 2026, an 8 per cent increase in US and Canada capacity over the previous year, including a 15 per cent boost to premium seating.
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Los Angeles will see 11–12 flights per week between December and March, adding 24,000 more seats over last year; Houston will return, with 4,500 seats between January and March; Vancouver will see larger 777s from December to early February; and San Francisco will see 1,800 additional seats, with daily flights continuing into mid-February and dropping to six per week in March.
The airline is also increasing its capacity to Asian destinations, including Taipei, with premium seats boosted on routes such as Bali, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
According to Jeremy O’Brien, chief commercial officer of Air New Zealand, inbound and outbound travel demand is continuing to increase, with “growing popularity of premium cabins”.
“Customers want a more comfortable and seamless experience, and we are responding by increasing premium availability and growing flight frequencies across our long-haul network,” he said.
The news comes as Air New Zealand’s refurbished 787-9 Dreamliners are entering service, with eight new Dreamliners also on order fitted with the new Skynest sleeping pods.
“As we move through the year, more of our newly retrofitted 787 aircraft will enter service, bringing a refreshed experience to destinations such as San Francisco, Honolulu, Vancouver, and Shanghai,” O’Brien said.
“The feedback so far has been fantastic, with customers loving the new seating – particularly the additional space and comfort in premium cabins.
“With strong summer demand on the horizon, we are pleased to be offering even more options to our customers, whether they are travelling for business, leisure, or reconnecting with friends and whānau.”
Air New Zealand also this month announced it would join Qantas, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines in pledging to operate services from Western Sydney International Airport, with Auckland flights to commence in mid-2027.
“This new route reflects our commitment to making travel more convenient for our customers and supporting stronger connections between New Zealand and Australia,” Greg Foran, chief executive of Air New Zealand, said.
“We’re looking forward to offering customers our world-class Air New Zealand service to and from a world-class new airport.”
