Tianjin flies to Auckland

AUCKLAND Chinese carrier Tianjin Airlines launched, Thursday, a new nonstop service from two major Chinese cities, Chongqing and Tianjin, to Auckland in New Zealand.

The Auckland-Chongqing-Tianjin route operates three times weekly using a 260-seat Airbus A330 aircraft. This is the first flight from Auckland to Chongqing and Tianjin.

“We’re delighted to welcome Tianjin Airlines to Auckland Airport and New Zealand. This new service will add 83,000 seats to the China-Auckland route every year and deliver an estimated USD102 million boost to the New Zealand tourism industry,” said Auckland Airport’s acting general manager — aeronautical-commercial, Scott Tasker.

This year the airline launched more than 10 new international destinations, including London, Moscow, Osaka and Phuket.

The flight will operate with 18 business class seats and 142 seats in economy class.

The outbound flight is scheduled to depart from Auckland Airport every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 2130, arriving at Chongqing at 0545 the following morning (12.5 hours’ flight time).

Introductory fares on the route have been pegged at CNY3,000 (about NZD600) for a return ticket (excluding tax).

Tianjin Airlines was founded in June 2009 as an aviation enterprise between the Tianjin government and HNA Group.