Air New Zealand Marks First Non-Stop Flight Between New York and Auckland

Air New Zealand on Saturday officially celebrated the launch of its new non-stop service between Auckland and New York.

The service, which clocks in at 17 and a half hours long, is the first non-stop flight connecting the two cities, and a significant milestone for Air New Zealand.

“As one of the world’s greatest cities, Air New Zealand is proud to add the Big Apple to its list of 29 international destinations. By adding greater access to the East Coast of the US, we’re connecting our North American customers to the possibilities of 20 destinations within New Zealand as well as the Pacific and Australia, all within easy reach. This is terrific for our customers,” Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran, who was onboard the inaugural flight along with key tourism and travel partners, said.

Starting on Monday, Air New Zealand will fly the service three times weekly, leaving Auckland on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.

With the addition, the carrier now serves six North American destinations—Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vancouver, in addition to New York. It will soon become seven as Air New Zealand will start flying to Chicago starting at the end of October.