October 14, 2024 – Between 14 and 31 October, Air New Zealand will operate 25 return flights to Apia, the Samoan capital. The increased capacity represents a 29 percent boost compared with typical operations over the period to meet heightened demand and support Samoa’s hosting of CHOGM.
Air New Zealand has also swapped narrowbody Airbus aircraft with widebody Boeing aircraft to increase capacity on the route, adding additional seats and more options for customers to book premium cabins. As a result, premium capacity for the period has increased by 88 percent.
Already, more than 9,000 customers are booked to travel during this period, with at least half of the demand related to CHOGM. The airline has seen unprecedented demand, with a record 1,800 bookings to Samoa in the space of a week.
Air New Zealand Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer Kiri Hannifin says the increase in capacity is part of the airline’s commitment to support its close Pacific Island neighbour, Samoa.