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AVIATION - AIR NEW ZEALAND
FLIGHTS |
Air New Zealand flights offer more features
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BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
24th August, 2005: Air New Zealand has revealed its first refitted Boeing 747-400 aircraft in North America, as part of its $800 million USD upgrade of its long-haul service. The flight features longest lie-flat bed available in business class today, digital in-flight entertainment at every seat and a new class of travel called Pacific Premium Economy.
The plane was unveiled at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), where the New zealand-based airline has completed its international lounge.
Air New Zealand Business Premier passengers and Star Alliance Gold members can use the newly opened lounge at the Los Angeles international Airport. The space available for passengers has been doubled from 3,800 square feet to 7,550. The lounge has seven "zones" to meet the diverse needs of travelers, such as a "quiet zone" that includes a library table for reading and a "relaxation zone" that includes recliners for catching up on sleep before or
in-between flights.
"This is a brand-new era of long-haul travel for North American travelers going to the South Pacific," said Gus Gilmore, vice president, Air New Zealand - The Americas. "We've considered every step a traveler takes with us - the time spent in our international lounge and their experience in our aircraft, even the small things like our salt and pepper sets. Every detail has been transformed so that the voyage for North American travelers is even more comfortable and inspiring than ever before."
The new refitted aircraft features 3 classes - Business Premier, Pacific Premium Economy and Pacific Economy. The airlines' new 8 Boeing 777-200 aircraft will have this configuration, the first of which will fly from San Francisco in November.
The Business Premier class offers a lot of comforts with 22-inch-wide leather armchair that converts into a six-foot by 7.5-inch bed. Other features of this class include an ottoman footrest that doubles as a visitor's seat, in-seat power, a high resolution 10.4-inch screen to view the on-demand digital entertainment system and active noise-cancellation headsets.
Pacific Premium Economy travellers will enjoy on-demand digital entertainment through a personal 8.4-inch high resolution screen.
Air New Zealand is the first flight to offer premium economy seating on services to and from New Zealand.
"With Pacific Premium Economy fares, which are available for just 25 to 30 percent more than economy fares, we have already seen strong bookings in North America," said Gilmore. "Bookings have been particularly strong in San Francisco and London, with a total of more than 8,000 sectors booked across North American and London routes."
The Airlines' Pacific Economy class features on-demand digital entertainment through high resolution 8.4-inch in-seat video screens.
Air New Zealand operates flights from Los Angeles to New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Australia, Fiji, Tahiti, the Cook Islands, Tonga and Samoa.
BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
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