Demand triples for Japanese charter flights this summer

Air New Zealand has more than tripled the number of charter flights it will be operating from Japan to New Zealand this summer in response to a resurgence in demand from this high spending tourism market.

Between 26 December 2010 and 3 April 2011, Air New Zealand will operate 14 return charter flights to Auckland from nine departure points across Japan.

Air New Zealand General Manager Japan, Edward Overy, says “This is a huge increase from the four charter flights we operated last summer, and is solid proof of the strong market recovery we are witnessing here. Japan is a very important market for us, last year it contributed almost 85,000 visitors to New Zealand, making it our fifth largest tourist market.

“Japanese tourists help boost the New Zealand economy. They spend more than any other nationality - averaging $4,600 in expenditure per visitor. They’re also highly satisfied tourists – rating our scenery, unspoiled environment and un-crowded spaces high on the list of things they appreciate about New Zealand as a holiday destination.”

Mr Overy says the airline is deliberately focusing on new tourists from key regions across Japan including Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo, Okinawa, Sendai, Kumamoto, Hiroshima, Miyazaki and Kagoshima. These visitors will complement those already travelling on Air New Zealand's 12 scheduled services from Tokyo (Narita Airport) and Osaka (Kansai Airport) each week.

The charter flights will utilise 230 seat Boeing 767 aircraft potentially bringing more than 3,000 additional Japanese visitors to New Zealand over the popular summer season. Air New Zealand has worked in partnership with both Tourism New Zealand and Auckland International Airport Limited to develop the charter programme.

Tourism New Zealand Regional Manager Japan, Jason Hill, says the organisations have worked closely on the project which will see a boost to summer arrivals on the back of 13 per cent growth in the first half of this year.

"These charters will fly out of secondary regions, which means they will be opening up direct flights to a new group of Japanese visitors. It will also deliver growth above and beyond usual expectation and provide an estimated $13.8 million increase in spending for the New Zealand industry," Mr Hill said.

Travel partners in Japan promoting these New Zealand charters include JTB, Club Tourism, Hiroden Chugokushimbun Travel, Kinki Nippon Tourist, Kyushu Sanko Tourism, Meitetsu World Travel, Miyazaki Kotsu Travel, Nokyo Tourist Corporation, Nishitetsu Travel, Okinawa Tourist Service and Yomiuri Travel Service.