dailynewsnblog
Air New Zealand is one of the most recognisable airlines out there, with its unique livery and a handful of all-black aircraft. The airline is based at its hub at 
Auckland Airport (AKL), which serves New Zealand’s largest city. It operates an extensive network of domestic, trans-Tasman and South Pacific flights, and a long-haul network that primarily focuses on the Pacific Rim.
As airlines continually review and adjust schedules, they often remove certain routes. Air New Zealand is no different, and in the last ten years the airline has cut eight long-haul routes. In this article, we will dig into these routes using data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company.
No Longer Serving London Heathrow
Probably the most memorable was the airline’s one-stop route that flew to 
London Heathrow Airport (LHR). The airline operated this route in its final years with a stopover in 
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The airline had fifth freedom privileges on the LAX to LHR sector, meaning that Californians could fly to the United Kingdom on the Star Alliance carrier. The airline chopped this route in 2020, and instead refocused its flagship route to New York (JFK).
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Air New Zealand historically also flew the route to London via Hong Kong, with the airline flying via both Los Angeles and Hong Kong at one point, being the only airline to fully circumnavigate the world. Air New Zealand cut several routes in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic, with many not having returned, as detailed below.
Year | Destination |
|---|---|
Served Up Until 2020 | London Heathrow (LHR) |
Served Up Until 2020 | Osaka Kansai (KIX) – seasonal charter flights only |
Served Up Until 2020 | Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) |
Osaka, Buenos Aires & Seoul
As noted in the table above, COVID-19 brought an end to the airline’s nonstop flights from Auckland to Buenos Aires (EZE), its only destination in South America. The route was moderately popular, as it was the only other option to the continent from Auckland alongside Chilean carrier LATAM.
Osaka Kansai International Airport (KIX) was another gateway that the airline cut during the pandemic. This route was operated on a seasonal charter basis and did not feature in the airline’s overall network, after it was permanently removed from the fixed schedule in 2013.
Seoul 
Incheon International Airport (ICN) has been the latest destination to be removed from the airline’s network: the carrier opted to stop flying to Seoul in 2025, following ongoing supply chain and maintenance issues with the 787-9. This leaves Korean Air as the only airline operating between South Korea and Auckland.
Ho Chi Minh, Beijing, Haneda & Chicago
Chicago was expected to become the airline’s second ultra-long-haul flight to the United States, complementing the existing network to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston and Honolulu. The airline operated the route up until 2024, when the airline experienced similar issues to those of Seoul, with limitations to its 787 fleet. This route is highly anticipated to make a return in the near future, but the airline has not yet committed to a date.
Nonstop flights to 
Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) were launched in 2008, as part of the airline’s ambitions to expand its China footprint, while also providing nonstop flights around the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Today, this route is operated by 
Air China, which maintains multiple weekly flights to Auckland.
Finally, the only other route that has been axed by Air New Zealand in the last decade was its short-lived service from Auckland to 
Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND). The airline operated the route to complement its existing Narita service: after just one year of operating (2017 to 2018), the airline has now consolidated its services to and from Narita. Air New Zealand will resume its nonstop flights to Christchurch (CHC) from Narita this November.
