Air New Zealand celebrates 60 years of trade, travel and partnership between New Zealand and Hong Kong
To celebrate the milestone, Air New Zealand is offering sale fares from New Zealand to Hong Kong, with fares starting from $699 one way*.
On 3 March 1966, Air New Zealand operated its inaugural DC8 service from Auckland to Hong Kong, opening a new chapter in the airline's long haul history.
The route quickly became known for its memorable arrival into Kai Tak airport, famed for its dramatic approach. Pilots navigated sharp turns between high rise apartment blocks, offering passengers a close up view into neighbouring flats before landing on the harbour side runway.
Over the decades, the service has continued to evolve:
- 3 March 1966: Air New Zealand operates its first Auckland to Hong Kong service using a DC8, travelling via Sydney and Darwin.
- 28 October 1973: The first DC10 service begins operating from Auckland to Hong Kong via Sydney.
- 2 April 1978: Air New Zealand launches its first non-stop DC10 service between Auckland and Hong Kong, operating twice weekly.
- 3 November 1982: A once weekly Boeing 747 service operates Auckland–Port Moresby–Hong Kong in association with Cathay Pacific and Air Niugini.
- 1983: Air New Zealand establishes a long term relationship with Cathay Pacific.
- 2 April 1985: A non-stop Boeing 747 service between Auckland and Hong Kong is reintroduced, operating until 3 December 1986.
- 4 December 1986: Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific introduce a bipartite weekly service between Auckland and Hong Kong.
- 2 April 1992: Air New Zealand resumes operating a non-stop Boeing 747 service exclusively, continuing twice weekly flights.
- 1 November 1995: The first Boeing 767 service between Auckland and Hong Kong begins, replacing one of the two weekly Boeing 747 frequencies.
- April 1998: The final non-stop Boeing 747 service operates between Auckland and Hong Kong, with the route transitioning fully to Boeing 767 aircraft.
- April 2003: Air New Zealand increases the route to daily services.
- 2013: Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific launch a major strategic alliance, further streamlining services between Auckland and Hong Kong.
Today, combined with its alliance partnership with Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand carries more than 350,000 passengers each year, with up to 16 flights a week operating during peak periods, flying into Hong Kong International Airport.
Air New Zealand General Manager Long Haul Kylie McGillivray-Brown says the anniversary highlights the airline's long standing commitment to the region.
"Reaching 60 years of service between Auckland and Hong Kong is a proud milestone for Air New Zealand and a testament to the strength of this important connection.
"For six decades, this route is helped connect New Zealand to the world, supporting Kiwi travellers exploring Asia and beyond, enabling our exporters to reach global markets, and welcoming visitors, students and business partners to our shores."
The route is also a critical freight link for New Zealand. In 2025, the majority of products air freighted between Auckland and Hong Kong were carried on an Air New Zealand aircraft. Key commodities include e-commerce, accounting for 70 percent of volume, and consumer electronics at 20 percent.
In 2025 the airline transported:
- 900 tonnes of milk formula, equivalent to one million cans
- 133 tonnes of eggs
- 85 tonnes of mussels
- 210 tonnes of meat
- 159 tonnes of avocados
*Celebratory sale fares
To mark the milestone, Air New Zealand has launched special sale fares for travel between New Zealand and Hong Kong:
- One way Economy fares from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch from $699
- One way Premium Economy fares from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch from $1,499
- One way Business Premier™ fares from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch from $3,599
Sale fares are available from 2–15 March 2026, unless sold out prior. Travel periods and conditions apply. Customers can visit www.airnewzealand.co.nz to book.
Historical images and video content from the route are available here
ENDS
Issued by Air New Zealand Communications
Email: media@airnz.co.nz │ Phone: +64 21 747 320
About Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand's story started in 1940, first taking to the skies between Auckland and Sydney on a flying boat - a Short S30. Known for its warm Kiwi hospitality, today, the airline has operating aircraft ranging from Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus A320s to ATRs and Q300s, offering customers comfort in the latest most efficient jets and turboprops. It's a modern fuel-efficient fleet with an average age of 9.9 years. Air New Zealand's global network of passenger and cargo services centres around New Zealand. In 2024, the airline flew more than 16 million passengers. Air New Zealand was named 2025 World's Safest Airline by the Australian rating service AirlineRatings.com, highlighting the airline's laser-focus on safety.
Air New Zealand has a well-connected domestic business, connecting customers and cargo to 20 different regions around New Zealand. Internationally, the airline has direct flights to major cities across Australia, the Pacific Islands, Asia and North America, and through its strong relationships with alliance partners, offers customers more choice and convenience to connect further afield to hundreds of destinations. Air New Zealand has a particular focus on sustainability and its Sustainability Framework helps guide the airline's efforts in tackling some of New Zealand's and the world's most complex challenges. Airpoints, Air New Zealand's loyalty programme, is seen as the most valuable loyalty programme in New Zealand with more than 4 million members. It allows members to earn Airpoints Dollars™ and Status Points for VIP benefits in the air and on the ground. Air New Zealand aircraft are proudly identified by its distinct tail livery of the Mangōpare, the Māori symbol of the hammerhead shark which represents strength, tenacity, and resilience.
About Star Alliance
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, based on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition and seamless service. Since inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a focus on improving customer experience across the Alliance journey.
The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United.
Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 16,000 daily flights to almost 1,200 airports in 186 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partners Juneyao Airlines and THAI Smile Airways.
For more information about Air New Zealand visit www.airnewzealand.com and for more information about Star Alliance visit www.staralliance.com