Carry on: Air NZ’s regional fleet gets world-first navigation

Air New Zealand [NZX: AIR] is spending $25 million to equip its new regional fleet with world-first performance-based navigation equipment.

The ATR72-600 turboprop aircraft will have what is known as Required Navigation Performance (RNP) AR technology. RNP AR (authorised required) is installed on aircraft operating in mountainous areas such as Queenstown and enables flying at lower altitudes with more precise and efficient routes into the airports. It also saves fuel and reduces emissions while also minimising the impact of bad weather on services.

Air New Zealand is buying 15 of the new 68-seater aircraft from ATR – 11 to replace its ATR72-500s and four to allow for further growth. This will bring its ATR fleet to 29.
ATR is based in Toulouse, France, and is a joint venture between Airbus and Italy’s Alenia Aermacchi.

Air New Zealand’s chief flight operations and safety officer Captain David Morgan says the advanced RNP AR capability will greatly benefit the airline’s customers. “This technology will enable us to provide a more consistent service for customers who travel on our ATR aircraft where weather conditions can at times prove challenging for our turboprop operations, particularly over the winter months,” he says.

ATR’s vice-president of contracts, Fabrice Vautier, says Air New Zealand will become the first ATR operator in the world to use this new RNP AR capability. The is expected in 2018.

Emirates' unveils new 'early bird' fares to Europe
Emirates has announced new early bird fares for travel to Europe starting at $1977 (economy return) for its new destinations of Oslo and Bologna.

This price applies to all five of Emirates’ daily services to Auckland and Christchurch, including the March 1 launch of the first Dubai-Auckland non-stop service, New Zealand regional manager Chris Lethbridge says.

“It’s great to be able to offer all of these flight options, as well as Emirates’ unparalleled network of 38 destinations in Europe via direct connections in Dubai,” he says.

Economy return fares to London start at $2260 return and others include Barcelona from $2159, Amsterdam from $2167, Rome from $2193, Paris from $2212 and Manchester from $2304.

Business class companion return fares available include Oslo from $7491 per person, Barcelona from $7509, Rome from $7543, Paris from $7630 and London from $7816.

Swiss upgrades to B777 on Asia flights
First class companion return fares range from Amsterdam at $13,117 per person, Zurich at $13,126, Frankfurt at $13,212 and Paris at $13,230 to London at $13,416.

Swiss will upgrade its daily Zurich-Hong Kong flights to the airline's newest Boeing 777-300ER in late March, with Zurich-Bangkok to follow in June.

This will showcase Swiss' latest first class and business class to Asian and Asia-bound travellers, with both cabins updated from the route's older Airbus A340 jets.

Bangkok will see its first Boeing 777 on several flights a week from June 16 and replacing the A340 from July 1. Lufthansa and Swiss fly to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore, with many New Zealanders connecting on to these flights.

Singapore Airlines last year signed a  joint venture with fellow Star Alliance partners Lufthansa and Swiss to offer more flexible flight times and better connections on key European routes for the Australasian market.

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