Earlier today, American Airlines announced its plans to launch two new routes to New Zealand starting from late 2020. It plans to connect Los Angeles with Christchurch and Dallas with Auckland.
The routes are a result of the recently approved joint venture between the airline and Qantas.
American Airlines’ Los Angeles – Christchurch Service
The seasonal flights between Los Angeles (LAX) and Christchurch (CHC) will operate three times a week from October 25, 2020, until March 26, 2021, with the following schedule:
- LAX – CHC / 11:30PM – 9:25AM+2 (10:25AM+2 accounting for Daylight Savings)
- CHC – LAX / 1:10PM (2:10PM) – 6:00AM
American Airlines will use its 787-8 aircraft with 234 seats on the route. Besides 186 economy class seats, the aircraft features 28 premium economy and 20 business class seats.
The airline will be the first airline to connect the largest city on New Zealand’s South Island with the United States. It will also be one of the very few airlines to offer long-haul services to Christchurch.
American Airlines’ Dallas – Auckland Service
American Airlines’ flights between Dallas (DFW) and Auckland (AKL) will be seasonal as well and will operate from October 25, 2020, until March 27, 2021.
Initially, the flights will be operated three times a week, however, starting on December 1, 2020, in the westbound and December 3, 2020, in the eastbound direction, they will become daily.
The flights are expected to operate with the following schedule:
- DFW – AKL / 10:30PM – 7:40AM+2 (8:40AM+2)
- AKL – DFW / 11:15AM (12:15PM) – 7:10AM
These flights will be operated by the 787-8 as well.
In addition to Dallas, American Airlines also runs seasonal service from Los Angeles to Auckland. The service is scheduled to resume on October 8, 2020.
Unlike Christchurch, there are other airlines operating between Auckland and the United States as well. Those include:
- Air New Zealand (Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco)
- Air Tahiti Nui (Los Angeles)
- Hawaiian Airlines (Honolulu)
- United Airlines (San Francisco)
Air New Zealand will also launch flights to Newark in October 2020.
That said, American Airlines is the only oneworld airline to do so. Thanks to the new flight, American Airlines will, according to its Senior Vice President of Network Strategy, Vasu Raja, be able to:
…get customers from places like Louisville, Savannah or Monterrey, Mexico, all the way to New Zealand with just one stop.
Summary
While Auckland and the United States are already connected fairly well, many oneworld-loyalists will likely find the new flight from Auckland to Dallas useful.
Personally, however, I find the route to Christchurch to be much more interesting.
Not only will American Airlines be the first airline to offer direct flights to the city, but it will also be the only airline not from Oceania, Asia, or the Middle East to serve the airport.
Overall, its been a good few days for connectivity between the United States and New Zealand not only thanks to these new American Airlines flights being announced, but also thanks to Air New Zealand announcing their non-stop flights to Newark.
