Passengers will be able to fly all the way to Auckland, via the US, in Virgin’s Upper Class product on one single ticket, thanks to a new codeshare agreement between Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand.
Air New Zealand has licensed Virgin’s Upper Class seat for use in its business class cabin, and offers it on the flights included in the new codeshare between the US and New Zealand.
The kiwi carrier will place Virgin’s VS code on flights between San Francisco and Auckland, and between Los Angeles and Rarotonga.
Virgin serves both San Francisco and Los Angeles daily, and passengers will be able to connect onto the New Zealand-bound flights.
Rob Fyfe, Air New Zealand’s CEO, said: “This new code share agreement provides yet further connectivity options for our customers as well as providing important connectivity for Virgin Atlantic customers to New Zealand.”
Virgin will also add its code to flights between Sydney and Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. The airline currently flies once a day to Sydney, via Hong Kong.
Also included in the codeshare agreement are a number of domestic routes. Virgin will add its code to the following flights from Auckland: Christchurch, Wellington, Queenstown and Rarotonga.
Air New Zealand, meanwhile, will add its NZ code on Virgin’s flights between London Heathrow and San Francisco and between Hong Kong and Sydney.
The codeshares will start from February 28, pending government approvals.
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