Air Canada, Air NZ eye trans-Pacific joint venture

Air Canada and Air New Zealand are pursuing a joint venture aimed at providing an expanded trans-Pacific network. The Candian carrier announced it would enter the New Zealand market with seasonal flights operating four times a week between December 12, 2019, and march, 2020. But Air Canada said it had also finalized a Memorandum of Understanding with Air New Zealand to expand its current alliance and strategically co-operate through a joint venture. READ: Fuel costs see Air New Zealand profit fall 34 percent. It said this as subject to both airlines making the necessary filings as well as obtaining competition and other regulatory approvals. "Air Canada and Air New Zealand already have a close partnership, having been codeshare and Star Alliance partners for more than 20 years,’’ Air Canada vice president global sales and alliances John McLeod said. “We look forward to deepening our relationship and optimizing our far-reaching trans-Pacific network co-operation, offering our customers a choice of more flights, connections and travel opportunities.’’ Air Canada said it had timed its new flights to connect through its Vancouver hub to non-stop destinations throughout North America, including New York-Newark. It said it expected the service to be of particular interest to Kiwis traveling to Canada for a winter holiday and for North Americans keen to visit New Zealand. Air New Zealand has been increasing its footprint in North American and flies to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Hawaii and Vancouver. New Zealand Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis welcomed the new link, saying it would deepen connections between the two countries and strengthen tourism links. He said 71,000 Canadians visited New Zealand in 2018, staying on average for 19 days and making an important contribution to the New Zealand economy. “In addition to tourism links, Canada is one of New Zealand's closest international partners,’’ he said. “Both countries are members of the recently implemented CPTPP free trade agreement."