Air New Zealand Tsunami Update 3

Air New Zealand’s extra flight between Auckland and Samoa tomorrow has sold out within 24 hours of going on sale. The airline is currently reviewing whether to add further capacity over the next week after upgrading the scheduled A320 flights to larger Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft on Wednesday and Thursday.

Group General Manager Shorthaul Airline Bruce Parton says seats on the special Boeing 767 service sold out in under a day, with strong demand from the Samoan community in New Zealand.

“Understandably families want to be with loved ones in Samoa and provide them with emotional support as well as aid. We have given all passengers an extra 15kg baggage allowance in support of their efforts to assist friends and family. The aircraft will be also carrying substantial relief aid,” Mr Parton says.

“As long as there is a strong demand for travel to Samoa and the need to ferry aid, we will look to put extra capacity on the Auckland-Samoa route to help the effort to rebuild. “

Mr Parton says he met Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister Misa Telefoni yesterday to offer Air New Zealand’s support to ensure the island nation’s tourism industry rebounds quickly from the destruction of the tsunami.

“Approximately 20% of Samoa’s 1200 available bed nights were wiped out in the tsunami, meaning the majority of the island’s tourism accommodation has been spared. We will work with Tourism Samoa to develop marketing and PR plans to ensure that tourists understand that Samoa remains open for business and is still a special place to visit.”

Meantime, Mr Parton says Air New Zealand has been in talks with the New Zealand Government on what support it can provide the relief effort in Tonga.