Air New Zealand forecasts 6% capacity growth in Tasman/Pacific Islands with deployment of A321neos

Air New Zealand outlined (28-Feb-2019) the following capacity outlook:

• H2FY2018/2019:
  • Domestic: ~+3% year-on-year;
    • Trunk growth in H2 reflects increased services into Dunedin and Queenstown;
    • Regional growth driven by additional services to Palmerston North and Tauranga, and growth in regional routes to/from Christchurch;
  • Tasman and Pacific Islands: ~+6%;
    • Deployment of A321neo aircraft;
    • Additional Tasman frequency driving growth following the end of the Virgin Australia alliance;
    • Rationalising Pacific Islands capacity growth on Honolulu, Bali Denpasar and Apia routes;
  • International: ~+4%;
    • Driven by new Taiwan and Chicago routes;
    • Second bank of frequencies on Auckland-Singapore route from the end of Mar-2019;
    • Offset by reduced operations to San Francisco and Los Angeles;
• FY2018/2019:
  • Domestic: ~+3%;
  • Tasman and Pacific Islands: ~+6%;
  • International: ~+4%. [more - original PR]