Air NZ axes HK to London
November 6th, 2012 at 12:00 pm by David FarrarStuff reports:
Air New Zealand is axing flights between Hong Kong and London in a bid to recover profits.
The service will be cut from March next year after a review found it was not likely to become profitable in the foreseeable future, the airline says.
Aaargh, this means if you want to fly to London on Air NZ, you need to fly via the US. A pity, as I much prefer flying via HK.
I wonder if at some stage Air NZ will scrap LA or SF to London also, and concentrate on Asia and Pacific only?
November 6th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
Air NZ doesn’t fly SFO-LHR, it codeshares with Virgin Atlantic.
LAX-LHR makes money because most people on that leg are not flying to/from NZ.
However, it’s clear David that you don’t fly in the cabins that make money often enough on the HKG route
Vote:November 6th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
It’s an airline in trouble all round, I’m afraid.
I fly with them a lot, I’m GE. The front end service is still great, but you can see cuts at the back end.
The London route is in trouble for a lot of reasons, the death of British Midland removed the ability to through ticket on the Star Alliance to regional UK destinations; LHR itself is a nightmare that many seek to avoid. T5 is ok, the rest is sub human
UK departure taxes for long haul flights are very high; unless you live in London, it makes much more sense to route via Amsterdam or Frankfurt than London. You can save $500 a head in departure tax, if you have a family that adds up pretty quickly.
There’s also a lot of capacity on the LHR / HKG route; hard to make money.
Vote:November 6th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Cant understand this.
Surely the horror of going via LAX has put people off travelling to europe via USA – but it seems not. Bloody masocists.
Mind you – if one wants to travel to europe biz class – there are pleny of airlines via asia who offer much better value for money than the likes of Air NZ.
I see Qantas is starting to lower fares in response to asian competition. One doesnt need the cost and waste of space that the new types of Biz premier class offers. They are giving first class space at lower fares than first class and they are devoting lots of airplane space to this class.
Vote:Where as the Thai and Malayisian and Korean etc are all 35% cheaper and quite adequate service.
November 6th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
On my London trips I dont bother with trying to get in their now – I will route via Paris by preference and train into London. As AJ said, the taxes kill it as a arrival depature point, and the train is fast, efficient and so damned easy. I can work after a night in Paris, arrive in the heart of London, quick cab to hotel, stay for a week, then out the same way.
The landing slots AirNZ has at Heathrow are worth millions, they wont want to let them go. My first world problem is AirNZ business class availability through LAX on the 777 – the Premium Economy seats are shit if you are more than 5 foot 8. I refuse to fly Qantas, long overdue a crash according to my pilot mates and that narrows the options. Emirates via MEL and DXB is my current fav.
Vote:November 6th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
“Emirates via MEL and DXB is my current fav.” It’s a very popular route, and has great regional connections.
Emirates fly into Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow and Birmingham at a minimum.
I don’t mind the “space seat” style PE seats on the 777s. Reasonable comfort at a good price point. I can sleep in them and I’m 6ft 1.
I still use them exclusively TT though; it’s pretty painless and i can switch off for 3 to 4 hours. I do this about 25 times a year.
Also still use them going to states, United offers good connections out of LAX. Last two or three trips to Europe I’ve gone with other airlines though; I really tried to make a compelling reason to fly with them, but couldn’t.
Vote:November 6th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
I guess this is really about removing the loss making routes prior to selling off 24% of the airline in a float next year though. Bill English clearly wants the best price going.
Vote:November 6th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
I don’t know why people prefer Hong Kong to LAX when travelling from Auckland to London on Air NZ.
It is two hours faster travelling via LAX and the customs line doesn’t take long for the special Air NZ transit area.
Fly via Hong Kong coming back for the same reasons, it’s faster.
Take advantage of that spinning globe.
Vote:November 6th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Never bother with Air NZ at all – almost always one of the higher prices for the same route. Generally fly via Bangkok or similar – Thai / BA / Singapore / Lufthansa / Emirates all give better prices – although I’m usually going to Frankfurt/Munich to go east not west – Russia/Ukraine the eventual destination. And I’ve never noticed any increased comfort across the various seats – they are all rubbish.
Avoid traveling via USA unless I have to – not keen on being fondled by TSA the least of the problem – going via Asia is faster and cheaper, and a lot less hassle – they don’t treat you like an illegal alien the moment you step off the plane as I’ve always experience in the US.
Vote:November 6th, 2012 at 1:29 pm
Fost, thats part of why I stick two fingers up to the US as well. They are surly bastards at best, rude and arrogant at worst, as you wait to get printed and photographed.
I used to love my Cathy flights via HKG, the first class and business class Cathy lounges in HKG rock, best noodle restaurant around
Vote:November 6th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Fly Emirates via Dubai to Gatwick
Vote:By the time you have disembarked at LHR the train from GTW will get you to Victoria.
QED
November 6th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Air NZ is bleeding on the long-hall runs. Expect the LAX London option to go as well and having to rely on alliance partners. Makes sense given the restrictions placed on the long-hall flights.
Vote:November 6th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
What is the difference in the pay rates of air crew in the over populated East?
Vote:November 6th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
AirNZ is essentially the travel division of Tourism NZ. They’re primarily about inbound tourism, rather than providing a service for long-haul kiwi’s. The other airlines do that pretty well, and with a lower cost base.
Vote:November 6th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Paulus – I fly Emirates to Europe. Best onward connections to any city. Their big A380 is a smooth ride.
Vote:November 6th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
I fly Qantas ex. Australia. I hate LAX, never go that way. But Dallas/Forth Worth is brilliant – it isn’t America that treats you like an illegal alien, it is just LAX. Still, not a big fan of the full body scanners, so via Asia if I can.
Qantas are dropping some of their legs into Europe, but it doesn’t mean you can’t fly via Asia. It just means they code share for the second leg. Qantas about to tie up with Emirates will help even more – they’ll hub out of Dubai and connections to anywhere in Europe. Definitely allows avoidance of LHR, which is a huge bonus.
Vote:November 6th, 2012 at 5:06 pm
It’ll have to be Singapore Airlines, then.
Vote:November 6th, 2012 at 6:39 pm
In the last 2 months I have flown twice to Bangkok (Thai 777, codeshare Air NZ) and once to Perth (Air NZ 777) The difference between the service, aircraft equipment and even seat room was embarrassing. Why does Air NZ insist on employing bitchy, mincing, bad tempered 40 something men, whose concept of service and civility is non existent? On Thai you have real cutlery, a drink or 3 if you wish, smiles, laughs and happy crew. I was horrified flying to Perth, the return was not much better. I doubt I will fly Air NZ again, unless there is absolutely no option, or unless they sort out their recruitment policy.
Vote:November 6th, 2012 at 10:09 pm
Air NZ faces the same problem as Qantas and will adopt the same solution as Qantas, which is to outsource long haul flying beyond Asia to partners. Qantas now has tied up with Emirates while Air NZ will increasingly rely on Singapore and now Etihad as the latters route network expands with new aircraft orders coming online in the next few years.
Vote:November 6th, 2012 at 10:42 pm
Are you serious?
You realise that the rotation of the earth does not directly affect flight times, right?
Vote:November 7th, 2012 at 6:34 pm
tristanb….
I don’t think the rotation of the earth affects Hamnida too much either…. sorry Hamnida… love ya baby!!
I once flew Singapore Airlines to London and the little trolley dollies were super sweethearts. They really did all look the same like they rolled off a freakin assembly line.
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