Air New Zealand says hello to Chicago once again and celebrates reopening of all international ports
The services will initially operate three times a week with state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, meaning customers flying these routes will be able to enjoy the airline's innovative Business Premier, Premium Economy and Economy Skycouch.
"This is an exciting time for us. Since New Zealand's borders reopened, we've been slowly resuming services and to now be flying to all our international destinations is a milestone moment for us," says Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty.
"The North American network plays a key role in Air New Zealand's rebuild and as the third biggest city in the United States, Chicago is an important destination for us," she says.
In 2019, visitors from the US spent over $1.5 billion in New Zealand, supporting local tourism and hospitality industries.
With 12,000 visitors from Illinois alone and almost 40% of travellers connecting to Chicago from other US states, that figure is expected to grow even further.
"Customers flying into Chicago O'Hare International will benefit from convenient one-stop codeshare connections to around 100 destinations across the US via the airline's strong partnership with United Airlines. This resumed service also adds to Chicago O'Hare International's ranking as the most connected airport in the world."
Chicago is an exciting destination with a lot to offer from its fascinating history, world-class museums and stunning architecture to internationally renowned jazz and blues scene, and famous dishes including the iconic deep-dish pizza."
Air New Zealand's new international menu, showcasing the best of New Zealand produce to the world also launched yesterday.
It features more choice in the air so Premium customers can add the likes of seared salmon from Marlborough, free-range chicken from Waikato or bacon, and steamed green vegetables or fresh, crisp salads picked straight from orchards and fields in Gisborne, Waikato and the Manawatū.
As part of the new menu, Business Premier customers travelling to Chicago will enjoy an amuse-bouche of New Zealand paua saucisson (abalone sausage) with herb cream and tomato, and to Auckland, they'll enjoy smoked duck with dried persimmon with a horseradish cream and balsamic glaze.
In Premium cabins, the airline has switched to serviceware that is 20% lighter, helping to reduce carbon emissions, and in Economy, the new serviceware will reduce plastic dishes used inflight by 28 million every year.
Air New Zealand now serves seven destinations in North America – Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver and New York City.
| Flight Number | Aircraft | Departs | Arrives | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ8 | 787-9 Dreamliner | Auckland 8:15pm | Chicago 5:00pm | Wed, Fri, Sun |
| NZ7 | 787-9 Dreamliner | Chicago 7:00pm | Auckland 6:30am | Wed, Fri, Sun |
Flight schedule for Auckland – Chicago from 30 October
NZ8
787-9 Dreamliner
Auckland 8:15pm
Chicago 5:00pm
Wed, Fri, Sun
NZ7
787-9 Dreamliner
Chicago 7:00pm
Auckland 6:30am
Wed, Fri, Sun
Ends
Issued by Air New Zealand Communications.
Email: media@airnz.co.nz │Phone: +64 21 747 320│Twitter: @AirNZMedia
About Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand's story started in 1940, first taking to the skies between Auckland and Sydney on a flying boat - a Short S30. Known for its warm Kiwi hospitality, today, the airline has 98 operating aircraft ranging from Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus A320s to ATRs and Q300s, offering customers comfort in the latest most efficient jets and turboprops. It's a modern fuel-efficient fleet with an average age of 6.7 years. Air New Zealand's global network of passenger and cargo services centres around New Zealand. Pre-Covid, the airline flew more than 17 million passengers every year, with 3,400 flights per week. Air New Zealand was recently named the World's Safest Airline by the Australian rating service AirlineRatings.com, highlighting the airline's laser-focus on safety. This year, Air New Zealand won Best Corporate Reputation in New Zealand – 8th year in a row.
Air New Zealand has a well-connected domestic business, connecting customers and cargo to 20 different regions around New Zealand. Internationally, the airline has direct flights to major cities across Australia, Asia, the Pacific Islands and the US, and through its strong relationships with alliance partners, offers customers more choice and convenience to connect further afield to hundreds of destinations. Air New Zealand has a particular focus on sustainability and its Sustainability Framework helps guide the airline's efforts in tackling some of New Zealand's and the world's most complex challenges. Airpoints, Air New Zealand's loyalty programme, is seen as the most valuable loyalty programme in New Zealand with 3.5 million members. It allows members to earn Airpoints Dollars™ and Status Points for VIP benefits in the air and on the ground. Air New Zealand aircraft are proudly identified by its distinct tail livery of the Mangōpare, the Māori symbol of the hammerhead shark which represents strength, tenacity, and resilience.
About Star Alliance
Air New Zealand is proud to be a member of Star Alliance. The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award and Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 18,500 daily flights to 1,321 airports in 193 countries.