Air New Zealand has begun selling tickets for its non-stop Auckland-New York flights, which are scheduled to take off on 29 October 2020.
With a flight time of 15hr 40m northbound and 17hr 40m southbound, the 14,178 kilometre route will be Air New Zealand’s longest and the fifth longest in the world by distance.
Flight NZ2 will depart Auckland on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 19:55, arriving at Newark Airport at 17:35 the same day.
The return flight NZ1 will depart Newark at 19:05, landing in Auckland at 06:45 + 2 days.
These timings provide ample room for connections in both directions. Most Australians will be able to board one of AirNZ’s daytime flights to Auckland and connect easily to the evening New York service. The total flying time will be similar to what Qantas, Virgin and other airlines currently offer via Los Angeles and other US ports (the main exception here is for travellers from Perth, who would have to endure long layovers in Auckland. You’re better off flying with other airlines.).
In Newark, passengers can connect to alliance partner United Airlines’s extensive North American network.
AirNZ will operate the non-stop flights with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner that is configured with a higher proportion of business class and premium economy seats, as befitting an ultra-long haul route.
The aircraft will feature 27 fully-flat business class seats arranged in a 1-1-1 layout, 33 premium economy seats in a 2-3-2 layout, and 215 economy seats in a 3-3-3 layout, many of which can be turned into a “Skycouch”.
Business class seat
Premium economy seating
Economy Skycouch
More information about the seats and their features is available here.
Tickets are now on sale via Air New Zealand’s website and travel agents.
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Unfortunately, NZ’s business class seats are woeful. Cramped.
My issue with them is the lack of privacy!
I agree.. Air NZ business class seats are the worst seats I have flown in and I don’t like sitting looking directly at another person..why would you design a seat like that.. I would not like to fly 15 hours seated like that..