New code-share arrangements between New Zealand and Chinese
airlines will bring about future growth in tourism and business
travel between the two countries, New Zealand Transport Ministry
said Monday.
The announcement followed a meeting of Transport Minister
Annette King's meeting with the Minister of the General
Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) Yang Yuanyuan, in
Beijing.
The two sides agreed that China and New Zealand will implement
from this month a change to the 1993 air services agreement that
will facilitate code share arrangements, and which will benefit
airlines and travelers in both countries.
The implementation of an amendment to the New Zealand/China Air
Services agreement has permitted New Zealand and Chinese airlines
to establish the commercial code-share arrangements.
In the year to March, New Zealand received 114,000 visitor
arrivals from China, 26 percent growth on 2006.
Air New Zealand's Greater China general manager Peter Elmsly
said that the official announcement would allow the airline to
explore new commercial connections in cooperation with Chinese
carriers.
Air New Zealand launched direct Auckland-Shanghai services in
November 2006.
Air New Zealand plans to increase Auckland-Shanghai from three
services a week to five services a week from November 2007.
Air New Zealand also flies direct to Auckland from Hong
Kong.
(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2007)
