China Eastern (MU) will fly directly from Shanghai Pudong airport to the Auckland airport four times a week starting from December 9.
The route will be operated by a 234-seat A330-200 in two classes, with 30 business seats in a 2-2-2 arrangement and 204 economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout.
The service departs Shanghai on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 0005 and arrives in Auckland at 1815, leaving again at 2200 for 0530 touchdown in China the following day. It will change to a daily operation from January 19 to March 8 next year.
Previously, passengers flying MU to Auckland had to transit in Sydney, but the new direct flight cuts seven hours from the journey.
Airlines have been upgrading connectivity between China and New Zealand since last year. China Southern has started flying its Dreamliner from Guangzhou to Auckland from end of last year, while Air New Zealand will deploy a B787-9 on the Shanghai-Auckland route starting from mid-December this year (see here).
For more information, visit flychinaeastern.com
Valerian Ho
