Kiwi flights take off

INTERNATIONAL flights to New Zealand will resume from Hobart Airport next month in what Tasmania’s tourism chief says is an important milestone in our Covid-19 recovery.

Air New Zealand is relaunching 14 international routes in 16 days – including one from Hobart to Auckland.

Planes will leave Hobart for Auckland twice a week from July 7.

Hobart Airport chief executive Norris Carter said the airport had been very busy during Dark Mofo and the return of Air New Zealand was welcome. “Hobart Airport was really busy over Dark Mofo,’’ Mr Carter (pictured) said.

“We had up to 76 flights on a single day, which is as busy as it gets over Christmas and Easter, and shows how Dark

Mofo has contributed to growing Tasmania’s off-season.

“We’re expecting the July school holidays to be busy, so much so that we’re expanding our car parks to cater for the demand.

“We’re connecting communities with more flights to more destinations than ever before, including the return of international flights to New Zealand in July.”

Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran said the Hobart to Auckland direct service was one of its most popular.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said the resumption of the link was a “really important milestone” in the state’s tourism recovery.

“The state worked hard to secure the direct service to Auckland to open up the New Zealand visitor market and launch regular international flights to Tasmania,” Mr Martin said.

“With the ongoing uncertainty around China and international tourism generally, NZ will be a very important growing market for us over the next couple of years.”

The airline said the resumption of flights would see it return to 60 per cent of its international capacity – the most international flying in the last two years.

Mr Foran said it took six to eight weeks to bring just one Boeing 777-300 out of storage in Auckland and get it ready for the skies.

“We’ve hired or rehired more than 2000 Air New Zealanders across the business including 150 pilots, more than 500 cabin crew, and 270 airport employees, with another 1100 vacancies to be filled,” Mr Foran said.

“It’s no easy feat but we’re getting back to where we were so we can give our customers that Air New Zealand service they know and love.

“We’re seeing first-hand how keen people are to travel again, particularly across the Tasman. Come July, we will double our services and restart popular direct services like the Sunshine Coast, Hobart and Adelaide.”