BY JAMES WILKINSON

The codeshare agreement between Air New Zealand and Eithad Airways has been given the green light from regulators, opening up a number of key inbound tourism opportunities for New Zealand.

Air New Zealand’s flights will carry Etihad Airways
flight codes from April 18

From April 18 a number of Air New Zealand’s (NZ) domestic and trans-Tasman services will carry Etihad flight numbers, including: domestic services between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown; Trans-Tasman services between Sydney and Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Rotorua and Queenstown; Trans-Tasman services between Brisbane and Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington; and Trans-Tasman services between Brisbane and Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Etihad’s flights will carry an Air NZ code on services
from Australia to Abu Dhabi and onwards to London

The new agreement is also a boost for the outbound MICE, business and leisure markets from New Zealand, with NZ code being placed on Etihad’s flights between Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Abu Dhabi, and between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow.