China and Indonesia flights boostTHE number of fl ights between China and New Zealand can increase from one to three a day per nation under a new air-services arrangement between the two countries. And Garuda has also announced it wants to recommence services between Indonesia and New Zealand for the fi rst time since 2004. With China Southern Airlines already fl ying daily, and with AirNZ fl ying between five and seven times a week depending on the season, New Zealand's s economic growth potential was being constrained says Auckland Airport GM corporate aff airs Charles Spillane. “This announcement off ers a major medium-term opportunity for New Zealand to achieve some of its big tourism and trade goals.” China has for the past few years been a key focus for New Zealand tourism and trade interests in the public and private sectors. “For example Auckland mayor Len Brown is currently leading a large trade and business delegation to China. “Building more connectivity to the key trade and tourism markets of Asia is vitally important for New Zealand.” Mr Spillane adds: “The size of the China market opportunity, and the projected growth, is simply extraordinary. And there are other markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam, India, and Brazil that are also experiencing phenomenal growth. The focus is there.” Mr Spillaine notes that Immigration New Zealand has made major improvements to visa processes, TNZ has beefed up its eff orts in China, and NZTE has launched a major China strategy to support the free trade agreement. But he warns that Australia already has about 10 times as many air connections to China as New Zealand. “In fact, China Southern Airlines president Si Xianmin was recently quoted as planning to increase weekly fl ights from the airline into Australia from the current 32 to 110 by 2015 That's just for one airline. This highlights the growth potential from China. Having a higher ceiling on air rights is an important part of the sales process.” Garuda is to start fl ying into New Zealand again following the signing of an MOU between Auckland airport chairwoman Joan Withers and Garuda President and CEO Emirsyah Satar, at a ceremony attended by PM and Tourism Minister John Key and the New Zealand and Indonesian Trade Ministers this week in Jakarta. The MOU confi rms that Auckland will be the airline's fi rst destination in New Zealand as soon as market conditions and aircraft availability allow. Auckland Airport's GM aeronautical commercial Glenn Wedlock says the MOU marks a signifi cant step towards stronger trade and tourism links between Indonesia and New Zealand. Garuda Indonesia is a major global airline player with strong network connections. “On our Pacific door-step, Indonesia is rapidly transforming into a (over) (from pg1) global economic powerhouse. With a population of around 240 million, Indonesia comprises around 45 percent of the ASEAN economy. There are already more than 42 million Facebook users in Indonesia, and by 2015 the number of millionaires is expected to triple according to a Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia wealth report. That's a significant market opportunity for Auckland and New Zealand by any measure.” Garuda has been recognised in a January and February 2012 Roy Morgan survey as the best international airline in the world. It has experienced a dramatic turnaround in the last half-decade. “It has completed a signifi cant fl eet upgrade and has a large number of new planes on order, and has successfully implemented a number of ambitious growth plans. It's a massive opportunity for New Zealand tourism,” says Mr Wedlock. “We are going to open the route in early 2013. New Zealand is a country (from pg2) with tourism and business potential and we would like to grab this market,” says president director Emirsyah Satar. Garuda fl ew to Auckland until the country's monetary crisis in 1998 forced the company to close the route in 2004. “The opening of the Jakarta-Auckland route will also help Garuda passengers to fl y to European and Latin American countries,” adds Mr Satar. Airline sales and marketing director Arif Wibowo says the carrier plans to fl y seven times a week to Auckland using the Airbus A330-300. “We are optimistic that the passenger load will reach 78 percent for this route,” Mr Wibowo adds. Garuda has 21 overseas sales offi ces including Amsterdam, Brisbane, Hong Kong, Riyadh, Shanghai and Sydney. The airline recently opened an offi ce in Beijing and it plans opening sales offi ces in Taipei, Taiwan, and Haneda. “This is a win for New Zealand,” says Christchurch Airport CEO Jim Boult. “We're always keen to see airlines bring visitors to New Zealand and are especially pleased to see Garuda return. “We look forward to working with Auckland Airport and various stakeholders in the vast Asian market to bring Indonesian visitors into the South Island. We know tourists want to see our famous southern mountains and lakes, so we will do all we can to encourage and grow the Indonesian market.” Mr Boult says there has been strong growth in arrivals from Indonesia to Christchurch almost every month for the past 24 months as new capacity from Asian markets became available. “Growth in visitor numbers from Indonesia has averaged 107 percent during this time. We are the co-partner to the Halal Dining Guide of New Zealand, so these developments support our belief of the growth potential from these fast-growing markets, where NZ can off er a unique experience for discerning travellers.” CIAL also welcomes the potential trebling of passenger fl ights between China and New Zealand. “We are a distant market for the rest of the world, so any agreement making it easier for airlines to come to New Zealand is very encouraging,” Mr Boult adds. “Our team at Christchurch Airport is engaged in positive discussions with China Southern in China this week and currently hosting an Air China plane while His Excellency Jia Qinglin visits. We hope our current conversations will result in direct flights to Christchurch.” Mr Boult says Chinese visitors are very keen to see the South Island's famous scenery and experience southern hospitality. “Christchurch Airport is the gateway to the South Island and travellers arriving here tell us they love flying in over the mountains they came to see,” he says. “Many international travellers book their trip to New Zealand with the expectation of seeing our stunning scenery - mountains and lakes. They get the promise of that as they fl y into Christchurch.”
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