Air New Zealand is preparing to welcome more than 745,000 passengers—465,000 domestic and 280,000 international travellers—as families across Aotearoa set off on winter holidays at home and abroad during the July school break.
To accommodate this demand, Air New Zealand has introduced approximately 18,000 extra seats through more than 200 additional domestic flights.
“We’ll see the school holiday rush begin this Friday, with 48,000 customers travelling across our network. The following two Fridays are shaping up to be even busier, with 49,000 customers expected each day,” Air New Zealand General Manager Airports Kate Boyer said.
Queenstown ranks as the most popular domestic destination, with Dunedin coming in second. Over the weekend of July 5, more than 8,000 customers are anticipated to travel to and from Dunedin for the All Blacks versus France match.
On the international front, Australia continues to be the favourite school holiday destination, led by Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne.
As airports are anticipated to be busy over the coming weeks, Air New Zealand advises customers to plan ahead, particularly those travelling with children or carrying bulky winter equipment.
“We know winter weather can sometimes cause disruptions, so we recommend downloading the Air NZ app to stay informed about your flight,” Boyer said.
She also emphasised the importance of purchasing travel insurance to protect against unforeseen events.