Air New Zealand provisionally plans to operate seven flights to the UK and back in the next 24 hours to help clear the backlog of passengers from the six-day closedown of European air space due to volcanic ash clouds.UK airspace was among the last to be c
Air New Zealand provisionally plans to operate seven flights to the UK and back in the next 24 hours to help clear the backlog of passengers from the six-day closedown of European air space due to volcanic ash clouds.
UK airspace was among the last to be cleared and airtports will officially be allowed to operate from later this afternoon (NZ time).
The first Air New Zealand flight to London from Los Angeles is due to land in London at 11am local time today (10pm NZ time).
The first flght out of London will leave at 4.15pm local time and arrive in Auckland via Los Angeles early on Friday morning.
A special flight has left Hong Kong and will arrive in London at 2.45pm local time (1.45am Thursday NZ time).
In its advisory to travellers, Air New Zealand says priority for booking passengers on available seats is being undertaken in the order of:
• those who were stranded in Hong Kong and Los Angeles enroute to London on Thursday night;
• customers with existing bookings on scheduled services; and
• passengers in a chronological order from their original point of delay.
Other airlines flying to Europe through Asia have advised all non-urgent travellers to delay their plans until later in the week.
