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Houston to Auckland – we have lift off

An American airline is set to resume direct flights to New Zealand.Continental Airlines, which is merging with United Airlines to form the biggest US carrier, has announced in the US that it will begin nonstop Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights to Auckland on

NBR staff
Thu, 27 May 2010

An American airline is set to resume direct flights to New Zealand.

Continental Airlines, which is merging with United Airlines to form the biggest US carrier, has announced in the US that it will begin nonstop Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights to Auckland on November 16 next year, subject to government approval.

Auckland will be added to the 63 international destinations that Continental currently serves nonstop from Houston, and will become the 26th destination in Continental's Pacific network. Continental serves more destinations in the Pacific region than any other US carrier.

Continental will be one of just three airlines flying nonstop between North America and New Zealand.

At approximately 7400 miles, the new route will be the longest from Continental's Houston hub. Continental plans to operate the route on a daily basis, with five-times-weekly service during certain periods in the first year of operation.

On May 3, Continental announced that it has agreed to merge with United Airlines in a merger to create the world's leading airline. Both airlines have plied the transpacific route to New Zealand in the past but pulled out.

“The success of the Houston-Auckland route will be enhanced by the additional traffic flows through Houston that are expected to result from the merger,” Continental says.

Continental is the first airline in the world to formally announce specific, initial route plans for its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The airline has firm orders for 25 Dreamliners.

The 787 is a new-technology aircraft built from carbon composites with lower operating costs, better environmental performance and an improved cabin environment for customer comfort. Deliveries to Continental are expected to begin in August 2011.

The aircraft will have 228 seats, including 36 of Continental's new flat-bed Business First seats.

NBR staff
Thu, 27 May 2010
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Houston to Auckland – we have lift off
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