Flight will help film industry take off
South Island’s movie industry, exporters and tourism businesses are expecting a major boost from news that American Airlines will fly between Los Angeles and Christchurch from next year.
South Island’s exporters and film industry expect a major boost from a new direct air link with the United States on top of the forecast $40 million extra visitor spending.
Next year American Airlines will launch flights between Christchurch and Los Angeles, the first since Air New Zealand cancelled a short-lived service between the cities 15 years ago.
Christchurch Airport’s chief aeronautical and commercial officer, Justin Watson, said the service would ‘‘turbocharge’’ New Zealand’s tourism industry and economy and was a direct response to Americans’ ‘‘very strong interest’’ in the South Island.
Based on Government figures, the airport expects the new flights to bring in $52m worth of new visitor spending nationally, including $40m in the South Island.
The Texas-based airline has scheduled three flights weekly for six months from October 2020, in conjunction with Qantas. It has not said whether the service is permanent, but airlines typically evaluate new routes after a trial period.
Michael Patterson, Tourism Industry Aotearoa
Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce chief executive Leeann Watson said the direct link without need for connecting flights would be of ‘‘huge benefit’’ to the region and wider South Island.
‘‘Our products having direct access to America is very important – we’re always looking for more direct flights,’’ she said.
Of the almost $1 billion worth of goods exported to the United States through Christchurch yearly, most go by air.
As well as perishable items such as seafood, meat, dairy products and bee products, the exports include machinery, electrical and surgical equipment, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and aircraft and spacecraft parts
ChristchurchNZ chief executive Joanna Norris said the
American Airlines will launch its Christchurch service in October next year.
United States was the thirdlargest international market for goods leaving Christchurch.
‘‘As a city, we’ve had good connectivity through to Australia and Asia.
‘‘This new connection is very important to support the relationship for businesses with their American markets.’’
Bree Loverich, from ChristchurchNZ’s newly established film bureau, said while the United States was a ‘‘significant trading partner in this valuable export industry’’, one of the barriers had been access from Los Angeles.
While filming was often done in scenic South Island locations, most of production was done in the north, Loverich said. She said the new direct air service would reduce travel costs and efficiency,
giving Christchurch an ‘‘extra edge’’ in attracting productions and giving studios an increased financial incentive to film in the region.
Movies shot in the South Island have included Mission Impossible, Z for Zachariah, Vertical Limit, The Changeover, The Stolen, Mulan, Wrinkle in Time, Lord of the Rings, and The Chronicles of Narnia. Other commercial filming has included television and advertising.
Michael Patterson from Tourism Industry Aotearoa said the new service had been long-sought and it would be a wonderful boost to the industry.
‘‘It’s great news. Christchurch hotels are performing OK, but not as well as Auckland and Queenstown.
‘‘Statistics show American visitors landing into Christchurch are high value visitors,’’ he said, adding that tourists flying into the South Island were expected to spend more time and money in the country.
Watson said American visitors arriving on international flights were more likely to stay in Christchurch rather than immediately heading south. The number of American visitors to Christchurch last year was 14 per cent up on the previous year.
‘‘Christchurch has typically been a gateway to the South Island. The fact that one of the world’s largest airlines has taken this step shows how big the appetite for access to New Zealand.’’
The new service is also expected to boost links to Antarctica as the United States Antarctic programme is based in Christchurch.
Christchurch is New Zealand’s second busiest international airport behind Auckland, with 885,000 passengers in the year to June. Queenstown had 333,000 in the same period.
The move takes the number of international airlines flying in and out of Christchurch to 10, and takes the number of weekly international flights to about 200.
Air New Zealand ran a 747 service between the cities twiceweekly until the financial downturn.
‘‘It’s great news. Christchurch hotels are performing OK, but not as well as Auckland and Queenstown.’’