Air New Zealand extends capacity for Rugby World Cup

Tuesday 16th March 2010

Air New Zealand, “fanatical” sponsors of the All Blacks, have announced they will considerably increase the number of domestic flight seats from January next year to cater for the bumper year ahead.

January this year saw the leading national airline’s highest load factor ever for its domestic jet network, so the company will increase its capacity overall by 10.5% for the forecast demand of travellers and rugby fans.

“2011 promises to be a bumper year...as the country creates a festival of events spanning 12 months, including arts, culture and sport, to leverage its hosting of the Rugby World Cup,” said Air New Zealand’s general manager of domestic airline, John Whittaker.

He said the capacity extension will enable the company to offer customers more airfares at a cheaper price, with an additional 26% capacity addition for the duration of the world cup.

Key to the extension is a new 171-seater Airbus A320 fleet and an 8-month lease extension on one of its 133-seater Boeing 737s.

The company’s half-year report for the year ended December 31 2009, showed a $70 million profit, despite the economic downturn.

“Our competitors will be scrambling to catch up as we introduce a world-first long-haul experience, continue to evolve our trans-Tasman and Pacific Island operation and introduce more capacity into our domestic jet operation with the arrival of new A320 aircraft,” said Air New Zealand CEO in the report, Rob Fyfe.

Air New Zealand shares are currently at $1.32, with a rating of ‘outperform,’ based on eight recommendations from Reuters.

Businesswire.co.nz

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