dailynewsnblog
Air New Zealand may be the largest airline in the small South Pacific country of New Zealand, but it’s relatively small on the international scale. Despite this, the airline is well regarded and remains one of the best airlines for connectivity to the South Pacific islands and network around the Pacific Rim.
Over the last decade, network and operational changes have seen the 
Star Alliance partner cut a total of 11 international and domestic routes. This comes as the airline faced COVID-19, route alignment, the retirement of older aircraft and then finally the Rolls-Royce Trent engine troubles, which have hampered the airline’s international growth plan. This article will look at the airline’s changes over the last ten years, using data from Cirium, an online aviation analytics company.
Air New Zealand No Longer Serves Vietnam, Argentina, Or South Korea
Two obvious countries that the airline no longer serves are Vietnam and Argentina. The airline operated its Auckland (AKL) to Buenos Aires (EZE) route up until the pandemic. It was the airline’s only nonstop service to South America, and its withdrawal has been widely left uncontested, with just LATAM operating a nonstop service between Auckland and Santiago (SCL).
Vietnam, and the airline’s route to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) (SGN), was operated seasonally through the popular mid-year travel period as antipodeans look to escape the Southern Hemisphere winter season for warmer temperatures. Air New Zealand last served Vietnam in 2018.
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More recently, the airline cut its nonstop service between Auckland and Seoul 
Incheon International Airport (ICN). This route was cut just last year, as the airline continues to grapple with its limited aircraft availability in the face of severe engine shortages and maintenance delays. The airline has no immediate plans to return to operating to Seoul, and will leave the route for Korean Air to be the only operator.
Route | Airline | Final Year Of Operation | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
AKL-EZE | Air New Zealand | 2020 | Boeing 777-200ER, 787-9 |
AKL-SGN | Air New Zealand | 2018 | Boeing 787-9, 767-300er |
AKL-ICN | Air New Zealand | 2025 | Boeing 787-9 |
London, Chicago, Tokyo, and Osaka All Got Cut
Air New Zealand opted to withdraw from flying to the British capital in 2020, with the airline refocusing its operations on the Pacific Rim. This saw the NZ1 flight number re-designated from 
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Auckland, for New York (JFK) to Auckland. The airline has been rumoured to be reconsidering a return to England, securing slots for London Gatwick (LGW) before returning them to the pool.
Chicago was the airline’s second-longest service to the United States, and its O’Hare (ORD) service was cut in 2024. This was due to the airline’s ongoing engine shortage. The airline has been coy on its return to the Windy City, but it remains permanently on the airline’s short-term horizon.
Services to Osaka International Airport (KIX) and 
Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) all had their flights cut permanently after the carrier opted to refocus all Japan-bound flights to Tokyo Narita (NRT). Osaka was operated on a seasonal and charter basis, while Haneda services were to offer corporate travelers the closer downtown Tokyo airport. All Air New Zealand flights to Japan are now operated to Tokyo Narita.
Route | Airline | Final Year Of Operation | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
AKL-LHR | Air New Zealand | 2020 | Boeing 777-300ER |
AKL-KIX | Air New Zealand | 2020 | Boeing 767-300ER |
AKL-HND | Air New Zealand | 2018 | Boeing 787-9 |
AKL-ORD | Air New Zealand | 2024 | Boeing 787-9 |
Routes Cut Closer To Home
A number of short-haul international and domestic routes also didn’t go untouched, with the Kiwi carrier axing its nonstop flights from Auckland to the Kapiti Coast (PPQ) in 2018. This route was picked up by Air Chathams for several years, before it also cut the service in July this year.
Air New Zealand operated Auckland to Norfolk Island (NLK) for a number of years up until 2017. This was the only nonstop flight from New Zealand to the Australian territory. Air Chathams also swooped in to operate the city pair, but this route was also axed in 2025. Air New Zealand also uniquely served Norfolk from Brisbane and Sydney up until 2021.
Nonstop flight to Port Vila (VLI), the largest city in Vanuatu, had Air New Zealand services cut in 2016 due to concerns around the quality of the runway at Bauerfield International Airport. Today, the only operator on the route is Solomon Airlines.
The last route on the list was Air New Zealand’s nonstop service from Auckland to the small New Zealand city of Whanganui (WAG). The route was served multiple times a day before the airline consolidated its services to nearby Palmerston North (PMR). I’ve flown a number of times to and from PMR and read my reviews on the lounge available here.
