LONDON – Yesterday, Air New Zealand made two announcements pertinent to its route network, involving its return to Chicago as well as to Bali too.
Back to Bali…
First off, the airline will be returning to Bali in March 2023 on a seasonal basis that will run until October 2023 and will use a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on a thrice-weekly basis.
The airline said that the equipment upgrade for this route means that the airline will offer all Economy customers a meal, in-flight entertainment as well as a checked bag.
Below is a copy of the scheduling for this route:
| Departs | Arrives | Day of Week | |||
| NZ64 | Auckland | 11.00 am* | Bali (DPS) | 4.20 pm | Wed, Fri, Sun |
| NZ65 | Bali (DPS) | 5.50 pm | Auckland | 5.30 am* |
Commenting on this route was the airline’s Chief Customer & Sales Officer, Leanne Geraghty:
“We first flew to Bali in 2012. Our last flight was in 2019, when we flew around 17,000 customers. It’s awesome to be back offering non-stop services and giving Kiwis direct access to a tropical paradise that suits any type of traveler.
“Bali regularly features as one our topmost searched destinations – currently in the top five – and we’re expecting interest to be hotter than the Balinese sunshine as Kiwis flock to book a winter getaway.”
Chicago Services Resumed…
Yesterday, the carrier also announced that the restarted Chicago flights have been inaugurated, meaning the airline has returned to all 29 of its international pre-COVID destinations.
Like with the Bali route, the 787 Dreamliner is being used for this route and will operate on a thrice-weekly basis also.
Below is the scheduling of the Auckland-Chicago route:
| Flight No. | Aircraft | Departs | Arrives | Frequency |
| NZ8 | 787-9 Dreamliner | Auckland 8:15 pm | Chicago 5:00 pm | Wed, Fri, Sun, |
| NZ7 | 787-9 Dreamliner | Chicago 7:00 pm | Auckland 6:30 am | Wed, Fri, Sun |
This also means that the carrier serves seven destinations across North America, being:
- Chicago
- Honolulu
- Houston
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
- Vancouver
- New York City
Geraghty expanded her views on the return to Chicago:
“This is an exciting time for us. Since New Zealand’s borders reopened, we’ve been slowly resuming services and to now be flying to all our international destinations is a milestone moment for us”.
“The North American network plays a key role in Air New Zealand’s rebuild, and as the third biggest city in the United States, Chicago is an important destination for us,”
“Customers flying into Chicago O’Hare International will benefit from convenient one-stop codeshare connections to around 100 destinations across the US via the airline’s strong partnership with United Airlines.”
“This resumed service also adds to Chicago O’Hare International’s ranking as the most connected airport in the world.”
“Chicago is an exciting destination with a lot to offer, from its fascinating history, world-class museums, and stunning architecture to internationally renowned jazz and blues scene and famous dishes, including the iconic deep-dish pizza.”
Overall, this is substantial news for Air New Zealand as the carrier can now continue its focus on further growth and more enhanced revenue streams moving forward.
