Air New Zealand promotional fares for Australian travelers

Air New Zealand Limited, the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand, has launched a big promotional campaign in Australia intended to get more Australians to visit several parts of New Zealand. The campaign named the ‘Big NZ Shout’ will run till May 10, 2009, in support of the New Zealand government’s plan, worth $2.5 million, to boost tourist arrivals from Australia.

Accordingly, Air New Zealand is giving away over $2 million in free domestic travel.

For the duration of the campaign, Air New Zealand, in partnership with Tourism New Zealand, would offer Australians a free domestic flight in conjunction with every trans-Tasman fare bought.

Air New Zealand operates 135 flights each week across the Tasman from seven cities in Australia.

Air New Zealand, which flies to destinations in Australasia, the South Pacific, North America, Europe and Asia, is a member of the Star Alliance.

In a statement, Bruce Parton, group general manager for Air New Zealand’s international and domestic short-haul operations, said that the ‘Big NZ Shout’ campaign offers access to the carrier’s network of 27 domestic ports, which is “something no other airline flying the Tasman can offer.”

According to the promotional plan, Parton added, passengers can fly from Sydney in Australia to Christchurch in New Zealand.

They can take a free flight to Nelson and experience a few days in the region, before flying for free again to Wellington or Auckland for a stop before heading back across the Tasman in New Zealand.

Air New Zealand’s said the campaign would run in combination with a five-day sale with one-way fares to New Zealand starting from Australian $209, including taxes.

The campaign is being publicised across Australia through press, radio, online and television advertisements.

“Air New Zealand,” Bruce Parton said in the statement, “is working closely with Tourism New Zealand to maximise this opportunity and is working with New Zealand regional tourism organisations (RTOs) by offering up to 100 free return airfares to attract Australian media to visit their regions.”

Norm Thompson, deputy chief Executive of Air New Zealand, explained in the statement that Australia was “an extremely important and growing market” for New Zealand’s tourism, fetching over $1.5 billion in foreign exchange.

He said Air New Zealand’s promotional offer ‘Big NZ Shout’ can be found on the Australian version of the website newzealand.com with direct links to booking on Air New Zealand. The website also features other offers.

According to New Zealand government’s data, Australia tops in tourist visits to New Zealand.