EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (Feb. 5, 2009) – From drag queens and pink boas to diamonds and champagne, Air New Zealand knows how to make flying glamorous. Following the success of last year's Air New Zealand Pink Flight to Sydney Mardi Gras, another gay-themed adventure is heading down under. North American travelers can fly from San Francisco or Los Angeles from $978 (USD) roundtrip and Vancouver from $1,078 (CAD) roundtrip including all of the glam experiences of the airline's now-famous Pink party flight, which departs Auckland, New Zealand for Sydney, Australia on March 6, 2009.

While last year's festivities began at the San Francisco International Airport check-in, Air New Zealand is offering North American Pink Flight guests the opportunity to relax and rejuvenate before joining the festivities in New Zealand. Once in Auckland, guests will be escorted to a 'Glamour Gate' event – an exclusive pink fliers-only party featuring custom-made chandeliers, a champagne bar and live music in an ultra-luxurious environment.

Back by popular demand, the iconic drag queen Buckwheat and her girls will host the in-flight party.

"Last year's Pink Flight was a 14-hour, completely scheduled affair," said Jodi Williams, Air New Zealand's director of marketing – the Americas. "This time, we thought we'd blend both the fun and excitement with some relaxation for our guests. We want everyone to enjoy our award-winning service, as well as the party-time frivolity the Pink Flight offers."

"We are always exploring new and creative ways to demonstrate the casual elegance and quirkiness of New Zealand's culture," said Roger Poulton, Air New Zealand's vice president – the Americas. "Air New Zealand reflects the country's diversity-embracing nature and celebrates people from all walks of life. This initiative is one of the many ways we strive to serve our guests, and you can expect many additional kiwi surprises throughout the year."

Air New Zealand's Pink Flight sells out each year. Travelers are encouraged to book now to secure a seat on the infamous flight. To enter a sweepstakes to win tickets or to purchase a ticket, visit http://www.airnewzealand.com/ or http://www.airnewzealand.ca/.

About Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand offers more direct flights to the South Pacific than any other airline, including non-stop flights from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu and Vancouver to New Zealand, as well as Los Angeles non-stop to the Cook Islands and Samoa. Other popular destinations include Australia, China, Japan and Tonga. In addition to flying non-stop Los Angeles-London, Air New Zealand’s route between London and Hong Kong now allows customers to fly round-the-world on one airline. Consistently rated among the world’s best international airlines, Air New Zealand’s new Inflight Concierge Service provides all passengers with a range of services, from travel advice to assistance with onward bookings. Air New Zealand’s most recent accolades include “Best Business Class to Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific” for the third straight year by Business Traveler Magazine (USA) “Best Transpacific Airline” at the 26th Airline Industry Awards, “Best Passenger Service” award by Air Transport World magazine, and “Best Business Class Red Wine” for the Martinborough Pinot Noir 2005 at the 2007 Cellars in the Sky awards. United Mileage Plus, US Airways Dividend Miles and Air Canada’s Aeroplan members earn and redeem mileage on select flights. Flight and vacation essentials can be booked on AirNewZealand.com or by calling 1-800-262-1234 in the USA and 1-800-663-5494 in Canada. Air New Zealand is a member of the Star Alliance network.