Air New Zealand launches temporary Gisborne – Napier service

Air New Zealand has added a new temporary service between Tairāwhiti Gisborne and the Hawke's Bay at a time when the two regions are struggling with the impacts of devastating floods and severely damaged roads.
22 February 2023

The direct service will operate Sunday to Friday and is in addition to the airline's existing services to and from Gisborne and Hawke's Bay.   

Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty says that the airline is committed to supporting the communities most impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle and this temporary direct flight will provide a convenient and efficient travel option as recovery efforts continue. 

"The floods have caused widespread damage to infrastructure and disrupted travel for many Kiwis. By launching this service, we're doing all we can to restore vital transportation links between the two regions, support families and friends looking to re-unite and help essential workers get to where they need to be. 

"Flights go on sale tomorrow, 23 February and are available for travel from 26 February to 25 March." 

The demands of operating Air New Zealand's existing routes out of Gisborne and Napier mean that this service is limited to a daily operation and is made possible because of the current need to reposition an aircraft overnight in Hawke's Bay.   

For customers, Air New Zealand has extended flexibility for those booked to travel to/from Gisborne or Napier between 17 February and 26 February 2023. Customers have until 31 March 2023 to change the date of their flight without a change fee, service fee or fare difference applying.  

Customers can also choose to reroute their flight without facing additional charges provided it's to another domestic destination. 

The schedule for the Gisborne - Napier flights between 26 February to 25 March is as follows:

 Flight

 NZ8477

 Departing

 Gisborne

 Time

7:35pm 

Arriving

Napier

Time

8:05pm


 Flight

 NZ8478

 Departing

 Napier

 Time

7:30am 

Arriving

Gisborne

Time

8:00am


Ends

Issued by Air New Zealand Communications.

Email: media@airnz.co.nz │Phone: +64 21 747 320│Twitter: @AirNZMedia

About Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand's story started in 1940, first taking to the skies between Auckland and Sydney on a flying boat - a Short S30. Known for its warm Kiwi hospitality, today, the airline has 104 operating aircraft ranging from Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus A320s to ATRs and Q300s, offering customers comfort in the latest most efficient jets and turboprops. It's a modern fuel-efficient fleet with an average age of 7.3 years. Air New Zealand's global network of passenger and cargo services centres around New Zealand. Pre-Covid, the airline flew more than 17 million passengers every year, with 3,400 flights per week. Air New Zealand was recently named the World's Safest Airline by the Australian rating service AirlineRatings.com, highlighting the airline's laser-focus on safety. Last year, Air New Zealand won Best Corporate Reputation in New Zealand – 8th year in a row.

Air New Zealand has a well-connected domestic business, connecting customers and cargo to 20 different regions around New Zealand. Internationally, the airline has direct flights to major cities across Australia, Asia, the Pacific Islands and the US, and through its strong relationships with alliance partners, offers customers more choice and convenience to connect further afield to hundreds of destinations. Air New Zealand has a particular focus on sustainability and its Sustainability Framework  helps guide the airline's efforts in tackling some of New Zealand's and the world's most complex challenges. Air New Zealand aircraft are proudly identified by its distinct tail livery of the Mangōpare, the Māori symbol of the hammerhead shark which represents strength, tenacity, and resilience.

 

About Star Alliance

Air New Zealand is proud to be a member of Star Alliance. The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award and Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 18,500 daily flights to 1,321 airports in 193 countries.