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Kiwi Takes Flight
Kiwi Travel International Airlines began scheduled services between New Zealand and Australia on August 23 using its leased 727-200. Kiwi received formal approval for its services the afternoon before scheduled operations began, making the airline New Zealand’s second designated international carrier. The airline also began domestic services with a Piper Chieftain from New Plymouth to Hamilton, providing feed for its international flights. Currently Kiwi flies six scheduled services across the Tasman each week comprising three return flights between Hamilton and Brisbane, two weekly flights between Hamilton and Sydney, and one weekly service between Dunedin and Brisbane — all cities pairs previously not served by direct flights. Speaking shortly after the flights had commenced, Kiwi Travel International’s Chief Executive Ewan Wilson said that he was “absolutely thrilled” with passenger loadings, and future bookings looked encouraging. The 727-200 is leased from Av Atlantic in the USA, and is configured with 173 economy class seats. Kiwi had planned to lease National Jet’s 737-300, although for a variety of reasons elected to lease the larger 727. Further details on Kiwi Travel International appear in this month’s Airline Affairs column.
Air New Zealand Upgrades Services
Air New Zealand has announced a $NZ50m upgrade of its international aircraft cabins, plus improvements to services on domestic flights. Over the next two years the seating pitch on Air New Zealand’s 747s and 767s will be increased in all classes with overall seating capacity reduced. The cabins will also be refurbished with new interiors, and all first and business class seats will gain personal video screens. Meanwhile Air New Zealand introduced revamped menus on its domestic 737 services in August. The airline consulted with chefs from five of New Zealand’s leading restaurants to design the new menu. Air New Zealand is also looking at bringing forward the delivery date of the six new Boeing 737s it has on order from the current planned date of 1998. The exact 737 subtype has not yet been specified, and the airline is also looking at buying smaller jet airliners. Some of the current 737s could be retained for trans Tasman and South Pacific flights after the new jets are delivered.
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