Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific have extended their strategic agreement on the Auckland-Hong Kong route by another four years.
The two airlines' agreement on services between the two cities has been operating since January 2013.
Its extension until October 31, 2019 was today officially approved by New Zealand's minister of transport Simon Bridges.
Benefits include reciprocal frequent flyer schemes, up to three frequences per day and "enhanced connectivity to and from both carriers' networks".
ANZ and Cathay currently fly one daily return service on the route each, increasing to three daily return services over peak months in the northern winter season.
Christopher Luxon, Air New Zealand's CEO, said: "This agreement has not only let Air New Zealand broaden its offering to customers between New Zealand and Hong Kong but has also allowed us to offer our customers excellent access to destinations throughout China and North Asia on Cathay Pacific and its sister airline Dragonair."
Cathay Pacific chief executive Ivan Chu added: "We are very pleased to continue the strategic agreement with Air New Zealand which enables us to offer travellers greater convenience and more connection opportunities to destinations in mainland China via Hong Kong and beyond Auckland."
Air New Zealand will launch a five-times weekly service to Houston later this year (see news, May 21).
airnewzealand.co.uk, cathaypacific.com
Graham Smith
