The strategic agreement has been operating since January 2013 and has already delivered a range of benefits to customers travelling between New Zealand and Hong Kong including the choice of up to three frequencies per day, reciprocal frequent flyer benefits and enhanced connectivity to and from both carriers’ networks.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon says the cooperation with Cathay Pacific plays an important part in the airline’s Pacific Rim strategy.

“This agreement has not only let Air New Zealand broaden its offering to customers between New Zealand and Hong Kong but has also allowed us to offer our customers excellent access to destinations throughout China and North Asia on Cathay Pacific and its sister airline Dragonair.  In turn our agreement has also allowed us to stimulate inbound tourism to New Zealand from these markets,” says Mr Luxon.

Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Ivan Chu said: “We are very pleased to continue the strategic agreement with Air New Zealand which enables us to offer travellers greater convenience and more connection opportunities to destinations in mainland China via Hong Kong and beyond Auckland. Consumers will continue to benefit from a wider choice of fares between the two gateway cities.”

Currently the carriers operate one daily return service each, increasing to a total of three daily return services over peak months in the Northern Winter season.