Air New Zealand (ANZ) has begun preparations for a busy summer ahead with the airline expecting to offer 2.2 million seats across its domestic network over the peak December-January period. This is 90,000 more than the same period last year, with December 21 through to Christmas Eve proving to be its busiest days. The carrier plans to provide extra services for major sporting and concert events throughout the summer months.
Virgin Australia has launched a daily Melbourne to Hong Kong service, which it says is a timely boost to meet the growing demand for cargo capacity on the route. Volumes have been steadily increasing in both directions since the carrier launched five Airbus A330-200 flights per week in July. The extra capacity provided by the new daily service will support the peak perishables season (the transportation of fruit and vegetables) during the Australian summer as well as the thriving e-commerce and courier business from Hong Kong.
Taipei-based EVA Air Cargo has taken delivery of its first Boeing 777 freighter. The aircraft, B-16781 (c/n 62824), was handed over on November 8 at the manufacturer’s Everett Delivery Centre. The carrier plans to put its new freighter on routes between Asia and North America from late November. With one technical stop in Anchorage, Alaska, EVA can use its new 777F to fly airfreight from Taiwan to any destination in North America.