Air New Zealand plans to begin in mid-December flights to
Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, its fifth destination in North
America.
Ticket sales for a nonstop service five days a week between
Houston and Auckland will begin in May. Air New Zealand already flies nonstop
to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver and Honolulu. As a Star Alliance
member, Air New Zealand also will codeshare with United Airlines from several
North American cities to Houston.
While corporate travel is not Air New Zealand's primary
focus for North America, general manager and vice president of the Americas and
Europe Chris Myers said a Houston flight could open the door to more corporate
business both there and, via a closer connection point, on the East Coast.
"Our New Zealand business from North America predominantly serves leisure travelers, and we expect the numbers will be similar on our upcoming Houston-Auckland route," Myers said. "However, we are always looking to strengthen our corporate relationships and would welcome more of that business on that route."