Asian tourists to flock to South Island
South Korea’s Asiana Airlines and Singapore Airlines are winging in more tourists for the next summer season.
Other South Korean airlines have flown into New Zealand in the past, but this is the first time for Asiana, the company said.
Asiana will provide a weekly Boeing 777-200ER charter service from December 2 to January 28 between Seoul’s Incheon Airport and Christchurch Airport.
The carrier expects to bring in 2500 visitors to the South Island based on requests from travel agents. In the 12 months to the end of June, 21,000 Korean visitors flew into Christchurch, up 29 per cent on the previous year.
Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines will put on five extra flights between November 13 to February 5, taking the total total number of flights this year to 401.
Singapore will use refitted 777-200ER aircraft with 26 business class and 245 economy class seats, providing increased connections through Singapore to the wider Singapore Airlines and SilkAir network.