Air New Zealand will soon offer passengers the next level in luxury, comfort and style with new lie-flat seats, new designer uniforms and granite-style bathroom counters. In an effort to set the benchmark for long-haul travel, the airline has recently added services, ordered new aircraft and undergone ambitious efforts to maximize passengers� experiences with new seats, in-flight entertainment systems and other conveniences.
� New non-stop service from San Francisco to Auckland
Air New Zealand began operating out of San Francisco on June 30, 2004 with its direct flight to Auckland. The flights depart three times weekly on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evenings, with the 12-hour flight arriving early morning into Auckland and midday from Auckland to San Francisco.
Air New Zealand�s service out of San Francisco marks the first new international gateway for the airline since 1995 and becomes the 21st destination on the airline�s international network.
� New Routes from Los Angeles to Christchurch
Beginning November 2, 2004, Air New Zealand will offer non-stop service from Los Angeles direct into the South Island city of Christchurch. The flights will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and will also provide a direct connection between London and Christchurch, with Air New Zealand flights from London to Los Angeles connecting on to Christchurch.
Flights will depart Los Angeles at 8:45p.m., arriving into Christchurch at 7:15a.m., two days later, with a flight time of 13.5 hours. The return flights will depart Christchurch at 8:30p.m., arriving into Los Angeles at 12:15p.m. the same day, with a flight time of 12 hours and 45 minutes.
� New long haul product
Air New Zealand will begin refitting its fleet of Boeing 747s at a cost of approximately US$100 million, in addition to adding eight new Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft and two new Boeing 7E7 aircraft. The refitting process, which will begin in the middle of 2005 and is scheduled to be completed by early 2006, will include six key features:
� A New Class Structure: o Premium experience This new class, providing customers luxurious comfort and service at a business class price, will feature the revolutionary lie-flat seat, offering all passengers direct aisle access, an adjustable table for dining together, LED cabin lighting, a 10.4 inch in-seat personal video screen, in-seat power for portable electronic devices, a retractable cocktail tray and water bottle holder and two individual reading lights. The new seat, which transforms to measure six foot seven-and-a-half inches and up to 33 inches wide at the shoulder, is the only truly lie-flat bed flying into or out of New Zealand at a business class price.
o Super Economy Experience A new super economy product will provide customers with even more space than standard economy, offering premium class service, 39-40 inch seat pitch, a dedicated seating zone, extra recline and a wider seat than standard economy, in-seat power for electronic devices and an 8.4 inch (21cm) in-seat personal video screen.
o Economy Experience An all new economy class will emphasize comfort and personal space, with retention of the world�s largest long haul economy seat pitch at 34-inches. Features will include a new generation seat to provide even more living space, flexible leading edge seat base to provide leg support when reclined, rear mounted footrests, adjustable winged headrests, generous recline and an 8.4 inch (21cm) in-seat personal video screen.
� In-flight entertainment The new in-flight entertainment systems will include video screens in every seat; offering movies, short features, single player games and music on demand for every customer, allowing the customer to play, pause, rewind and forward as needed; a choice from a potential 780 hours of video content; cached websites providing additional information on destinations, Air New Zealand products and services and general customer information; 3D real time location maps with terrain simulation. � Interior Enhancements In addition to the new seats, the cabins of the aircraft will also be updated with LED mood lighting in the premium cabin, refurbished bathrooms featuring granite-style benchtops, timer controlled taps and full-length mirrors and new carpets and curtains, wall linings and stowage bins.
� Food and Beverage Enhancements Air New Zealand�s in-flight food and beverage offerings are already world-renowned, but improved distinctive full service menus will now reflect New Zealand food trends and also place an increased emphasis on New Zealand wines.
� New uniforms for cabin crew, pilots, frontline ground staff and Travelcentre staff
In 2006, Air New Zealand staff will wear new designer uniforms, created specifically for the airline by renowned designer Zambesi. Recognized as New Zealand�s premier clothing design house, Zambesi will spend the 18 months designing and creating the new uniforms in time for their introduction in early 2006. The announcement follows Air New Zealand�s recent commitment to become the new naming rights sponsor for New Zealand Fashion Week (October 18-21, 2004) to help promote New Zealand fashion to the world. Air New Zealand offers more direct flights to the South Pacific than any other airline, including a total of 32 flights per week from Los Angeles to New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Fiji, Tahiti, the Cook Islands, Tonga and Samoa. Air New Zealand now offers non-stop service from San Francisco and Honolulu to Auckland three times a week. United Mileage Plus members earn and redeem mileage on selected flights. The readers of Cond� 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.
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