Fiji Sun

Another 50 Cargo Flights A Week, To And From New Zealand

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Another 50 flights of air freight have been added each week to lift the volume of goods going in and out of New Zealand.

The additional services add about 50 per cent capacity to the number of flights already operating each week.

But the new total of 146 is still far lower than pre-COVID levels.

Partial subsidy of flight costs

The New Zealand Government says the new flights will strengthen the supply of critical imports such as medical supplies, and the export of high value goods.

With few passenger flights operating, air freight deloiverie­s has become more expensive.

The New Zealand Government is subsidisin­g the costs of these flights, but only partially.

Six airlines are involved in the additional flights, which connects to Australia, the Pacific Islands, Asia and the United States of America.

Internatio­nal air freight capacity scheme

Transport minister Phil Twyford said the flights provided by the NZ$330 million (FJ$ 447 m) short-term Internatio­nal Air Freight Capacity scheme, help maintain New Zealand’s trade links with key global markets, and were vital to the country’s recovery from the economic effects of the pandemic.

“This new schedule restores more export markets to more businesses and with greater frequency.

“There is a huge demand for air freight, at a time when capacity is limited.

“This scheme helps provide certainty for business.

“The funding guarantees services will be provided on key routes, and freight customers then pay the carriers for that capacity.

“The first successful applicants are Air New Zealand, China Airlines, Emirates, Freightway­s Express, Qantas and Tasman Cargo.

“We are working with other carriers, and expect to make further announceme­nts shortly.

“As the market recovers, we will reassess the need for funding,” Twyford said.

Air freight scheme

As part of the NZ$12.1 billion (FJ$16.3 bn) government COVID-19 support package, $600 million (FJ$812 m) was earmarked for aviation, including the air freight scheme, local air freight and domestic “lifeline air services”.

“Cargo customers will be able to access most destinatio­ns across Air New Zealand’s traditiona­l network, with a handful of exceptions,” said Air New Zealand general manager of cargo, Rick Nelson.

Schedules of freight services

The new arrangemen­t means customers have more certainty about the schedules of freight services, he said.

“We are working to offer connectivi­ty to and from the United Kingdom and Europe, as well as Houston and Chicago via Los Angeles and San Francisco, Hong Kong and Narita gateways.

“We hope the need to operate under an agreement of this nature will be a short-term business model, and in time we’ll be able to revert to our traditiona­l model as demand for passenger travel begins to pick up.”

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 ??  ?? Six airlines are involved in the additional flights, which connect to Australia, the Pacific Islands, Asia and the United States of America.
Six airlines are involved in the additional flights, which connect to Australia, the Pacific Islands, Asia and the United States of America.

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