UPFRONT

AIR NEW ZEALAND AXES LA-LONDON LINK

Air New Zealand’s Los Angeles-London route will cease in October 2020. It is currently New Zealand’s only direct link to Europe, with passengers able to fly Auckland-Heathrow via the US west coast. Acting airline head Jeff McDowall said that in 2018 less than 7 per cent of passengers flying between London and Auckland travelled via LA. In its place, the carrier will begin a nonstop three-times weekly service between Auckland and New York Newark, which will be operated alongside its Star Alliance partner United, potentially providing onward connections to the UK and mainland Europe. Meanwhile, American Airlines will launch Los Angeles-Christchurch and Dallas