Air New Zealand to Start Sunshine Coast Seasonal Services

Stefan Perkas · #1 23rd February 2012, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Air New Zealand has this afternoon announced plans to launch a new twice-weekly seasonal service between Auckland and Sunshine Coast Airport from 01 Jul-the Queensland airport's first international service.

Seats to Suit fares for the new Tasman city pair go on sale today and local industry sources have welcomed the direct service, saying it gives Kiwi travellers more choice into Queensland.

The non-stop service will be operated by A320s on a Tue and Sun for the seasonal peak 01 Jul-18 Sep. Introductory fares are from $149 one-way ex AKL for sales to 02 Mar.

"Every year almost a hundred thousand New Zealand leisure travellers arrive in Brisbane and make the 100km plus drive north to the popular Sunshine Coast beach resorts such as Noosa, Coolum, Mooloolaba and Maroochydore," says NZ chief executive Rob Fyfe. "This new service will cut down their travelling time by eliminating the commute from Brisbane Airport which can be more than two hours."

Schedule, from July 1 2012:

Tuesday
NZ769 AKL ETD 1000 MCY ETA 1155
NZ768 MCY ETD 1255 AKL ETA 1810

Sunday
NZ769 AKL ETD 0630 MCY ETA 0825
NZ768 MCY ETD 0925 AKL ETA 1440

info (Reply 184) & schedules (Reply 187) from http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo.../5385910/#last

Also an article here http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/q...-1226279487794

Justin L · #2 23rd February 2012, 03:57 PM

That's great news for MCY. I've only used MCY once a few years ago for a flight to SYD and it was a small pleasant airport. What will they do for customs and immigration at MCY for these seasonal flights?

Rob R · #3 23rd February 2012, 04:16 PM

Think they would check their facts before saying this is the first international services from the Sunshine Coast. Freedom Air operated flights into there from NZ 10 years ago. Customs etc were flown up from Brisbane and the Ansett Ground staff did the handling.

Jarden S · #4 23rd February 2012, 09:45 PM

It was in the planning for a while, Rob Fyfe last year explained they were looking into 2 new Australian destinations the other one being Canberra.

Matt_L · #5 24th February 2012, 07:11 AM

Awesome news!

MCY has had a rather decent makeover of the terminal/airport precint lately and is a really hospitable place to be.

Would think ANZ should do well on the route!

James Thomson · #6 25th February 2012, 05:32 PM

Finally we get international services here.... i am looking to go on the inugural flight from auckland to sunshine coast and cant wait!!!!