texan

Air New Zealand Celebrates New Non-Stop Service with Special Fare

Fly Round-Trip From San Francisco to New Zealand for $898

8:01 pm ET LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 2004--Air New Zealand
is making Middle-earth more accessible than ever. To celebrate its new
non-stop service from San Francisco to Auckland, commencing on June
30, the airline is offering non-stop, round-trip flights at a special
fare of $898. Enjoy a 12-hour overnight flight and awaken in New
Zealand. The warm and friendly land has never been so close, with Air
New Zealand eliminating the need to connect in Los Angeles or
Honolulu.

"We invite San Franciscans to celebrate this new service. In 12 hours,
passengers will be in the Southern Hemisphere, enjoying New Zealand's
lovely, mild winter and spring," said Air New Zealand Vice President -
Western Region, Gerard Gilmore. "This special inaugural fare makes a
dream vacation possible at a very down-to-earth price."

Tickets may be booked through travel agents or directly with the
airline by calling 1-800-369-6867 or by visiting
www.airnewzealand.com/usa. The special fare of $898 is valid for
travel August 1-September 19, 2004 and October 1-November 28, 2004 and
does not include taxes. Travel must be booked by May 31, 2004 and
tickets must be issued on or before that date. This fare is for the
new non-stop service from San Francisco to Auckland only. Minimum stay
is six days; maximum stay is one month. Children's fares are
available. Other conditions apply.

No one brings you closer to New Zealand. Air New Zealand offers more
direct flights to the South Pacific than any other airline, including
a total of 36 flights per week from Los Angeles and Honolulu to the
United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, the Cook
Islands, Tonga and Samoa. Beginning June 30, 2004, Air New Zealand
will commence thrice-weekly service direct from San Francisco
International Airport to Auckland. The readers of Conde Nast Traveler
and Travel & Leisure magazines consistently rate Air New Zealand among
the world's best international airlines. Visit Air New Zealand online
at www.airnewzealand.com/usa for web specials or call 1-800-369-6867.
Travel agents can visit www.airnztravelagent.com or call
1-800-262-2468.

Neil Raines

Why do kiwis have to pay NZD 400 more for the same flight? We seem to always
get robbed by our own airline.

    > Air New Zealand Celebrates New Non-Stop Service with Special Fare
    > Fly Round-Trip From San Francisco to New Zealand for $898
    > 8:01 pm ET LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 2004--Air New Zealand
    > is making Middle-earth more accessible than ever. To celebrate its new
    > non-stop service from San Francisco to Auckland, commencing on June
    > 30, the airline is offering non-stop, round-trip flights at a special
    > fare of $898. Enjoy a 12-hour overnight flight and awaken in New
    > Zealand. The warm and friendly land has never been so close, with Air
    > New Zealand eliminating the need to connect in Los Angeles or
    > Honolulu.
    > "We invite San Franciscans to celebrate this new service. In 12 hours,
    > passengers will be in the Southern Hemisphere, enjoying New Zealand's
    > lovely, mild winter and spring," said Air New Zealand Vice President -
    > Western Region, Gerard Gilmore. "This special inaugural fare makes a
    > dream vacation possible at a very down-to-earth price."
    > Tickets may be booked through travel agents or directly with the
    > airline by calling 1-800-369-6867 or by visiting
    > www.airnewzealand.com/usa. The special fare of $898 is valid for
    > travel August 1-September 19, 2004 and October 1-November 28, 2004 and
    > does not include taxes. Travel must be booked by May 31, 2004 and
    > tickets must be issued on or before that date. This fare is for the
    > new non-stop service from San Francisco to Auckland only. Minimum stay
    > is six days; maximum stay is one month. Children's fares are
    > available. Other conditions apply.
    > No one brings you closer to New Zealand. Air New Zealand offers more
    > direct flights to the South Pacific than any other airline, including
    > a total of 36 flights per week from Los Angeles and Honolulu to the
    > United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, the Cook
    > Islands, Tonga and Samoa. Beginning June 30, 2004, Air New Zealand
    > will commence thrice-weekly service direct from San Francisco
    > International Airport to Auckland. The readers of Conde Nast Traveler
    > and Travel & Leisure magazines consistently rate Air New Zealand among
    > the world's best international airlines. Visit Air New Zealand online
    > at www.airnewzealand.com/usa for web specials or call 1-800-369-6867.
    > Travel agents can visit www.airnztravelagent.com or call
    > 1-800-262-2468.

texan

On Sat, 8 May 2004 11:37:40 +1200, "Neil Raines" <>
wrote:
[msge snipped[
    >Why do kiwis have to pay NZD 400 more for the same flight? We seem to always
    >get robbed by our own airline.
Ask the illustrious Helen.

Cath

    >> Air New Zealand Celebrates New Non-Stop Service with Special Fare
    >> Fly Round-Trip From San Francisco to New Zealand for $898

texan

On Tue, 04 May 2004 19:17:22 -0500,
wrote:

    >Air New Zealand Celebrates New Non-Stop Service with Special Fare
    >Fly Round-Trip From San Francisco to New Zealand for $898

New Fare Release:
Fares expire 31May04
San Francisco-Auckland
Non-stop commencing 30 June 04

R/T Air From: Valid for travel commencing:
$748* 1 Aug - 29 Sep 2004
$848* 1 Oct - 28 Nov 2004

Neil Raines

Perhaps Dr Cullen is more the person as he wants to let Qantas take over
AirNZ to ensure absolutely no competition on this route.

    > >Why do kiwis have to pay NZD 400 more for the same flight? We seem to
always
    > >get robbed by our own airline.
    > >
    > Ask the illustrious Helen.
    > Cath
    > >> Air New Zealand Celebrates New Non-Stop Service with Special Fare
    > >>
    > >> Fly Round-Trip From San Francisco to New Zealand for $898
    > >>

texan

On Sat, 8 May 2004 11:37:40 +1200, "Neil Raines" <>
wrote:

    >Why do kiwis have to pay NZD 400 more for the same flight? We seem to always
    >get robbed by our own airline.
Competition to keep Air NZ fares low

Competitive pressures from rivals may prevent Air NZ from raising
ticket prices in response to the big rise in world jet fuel prices.

Fuel prices are at levels not seen since late 2000, with Singapore
Jet, the benchmark price of aviation fuel for Air NZ, going up more
than 30 per cent in the past four weeks.

World airlines, including American Airlines, Continental and Air
Canada, have this year all cited increased fuel costs as the reason
for raising their fares.

British Airways has suggested it will also put up its prices.

Air NZ says it faces intense competition, particularly on the Tasman,
so any move to increase prices may have to wait for rivals to move
first.

Coupled with recent falls in the value of the NZ dollar against the US
dollar, profits at Air NZ could be dented if the situation on world
oil and currency markets continues.

Fuel prices and exchange rates are intimately linked, since all fuel
is paid for in US dollars.

A high New Zealand dollar last year meant a $38.3 million saving in
fuel costs for Air NZ.

Long-range fuel and currency-hedging policies are in place to attempt
to shield the airline from any short- term spikes in world prices.

Despite having forward hedge contracts designed to smooth out the
impact of fluctuating oil prices on revenue, Air NZ must still buy jet
fuel from the oil companies every day, at prices set according to the
current world prices.

However, high world oil prices did not take the company completely by
surprise.

Speaking to a transport conference in Sydney last month, Air NZ chief
executive Ralph Norris referred to fuel prices when reiterating the
airline's forecast of a $220 million full-year profit.

"The guidance incorporates the increase in competitive activity on
international sectors such as the Tasman, the slow recovery of the
Japanese market and a period of high-sustained fuel prices," he said.

When these comments were made, the price of Singapore Jet was $US37.66
($NZ61.82) a barrel. Now it is $US47.90.

Fuel is the second biggest expense for Air NZ, after labour costs.

Normal seasonal volatility of Singapore Jet is around $US10 a barrel.

The fuel is usually at seasonal low prices at this time of the year,
since there is less demand for kerosene-type fuel from Northern
Hemisphere power stations.

Air NZ will hope for prices to fall soon, and this can happen quickly,
especially since there is no actual shortage of jet fuel being
produced. ####