American Airlines has launched a daily non-stop service between its Los Angeles Airport hub and Auckland, New Zealand.
The route, operated by Boeing 787 ‘Dreamliner’ equipment, opens up “vast new opportunities” for freight customers, notes the carrier’s cargo wing, with connections on the American Airlines network through its Los Angeles gateway to over 200 destinations across North and Latin America.
The modern B787’s fuel-efficiency allows American to fly such a long transpacific route. Auckland forms just part of the carrier’s plans to expand operations across the Pacific, including opening up other new routes to Tokyo Haneda and Sydney.
Joe Goode, managing director, cargo sales – west at American, remarked: “We look forward to a strong demand on the cargo front between AKL (Auckland) and LAX (Los Angeles), and anticipate additional demand beyond New Zealand into Australia using our interline partners.”
The inaugural flight out of LA carried a variety of perishables and other consolidated freight. The return flight from Auckland is expected to carry cargo including medical supplies and mining machinery.
Other commodities commonly shipped into and out of New Zealand include e-commerce goods, perishables, horticulture products, edible fish and other chilled meats.
American has appointed GSA Cargo Services as its cargo sales agent in Auckland.
The cargo general sales agent already performed that role for American Airlines across the Tasman Sea in Australia. GSA Cargo Services has offices in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney as well as Auckland.
Menzies Aviation will undertake ground handling for the carrier, while also handling freight through its cargo facility in Auckland.
