Air New Zealand clocks up 40 years of direct services and more than 40,000 flights between Auckland and Los Angeles in April 2024, making it the longest-serving nonstop carrier on the trans-Pacific route. To celebrate, Kiwi pax can share their LAX flying memories to win LA flights for four.
The inaugural direct AKL-LAX flight took off on 1 April 1984 aboard a Boeing 747. The route was also the first routine commercial flight used by a British monarch when Queen Elizabeth II flew Air New Zealand to Aotearoa in 1993.
While Air NZ first touched down in LA in December 1965, the service included refuelling stops in Nadi, Tahiti or Honolulu, so 1984 marked the first direct flight.
Today, Air New Zealand offers up to 10 return AKL-LAX services per week and has carried more than 12 million passengers over 40 years.
Air NZ is celebrating this feat with a competition for Kiwis to share their favourite flying experience on the LA route to win Premium Economy flights for four to the city.
In addition, LAX festivities include an event at the gate lounge and departure gate with prizes, a Kiwi-inspired photo booth and giveaways for New Zealand-bound customers.
Air NZ General Manager Long Haul Scott Carr said the milestone reflects the popularity of the service between the cities.
“LA has long been a popular destination for Kiwis. It also serves as an important gateway for the US and beyond, connecting millions of our customers to their destinations over the past 40 years,” he said.
“Likewise, for our US customers, our LAX to AKL service has been one of our most popular routes for connecting visitors to Aotearoa.”
For more info, head to airnewzealand.com