OREANDA-NEWS.    Auckland Airport has welcomed the decision by China Airlines to add an extra 15,000 seats on its Taipei - Brisbane - Auckland route during the peak New Zealand summer period.

China Airlines has announced that for the peak period of December 2014 to March 2015, it will increase flights on its Taipei - Brisbane - Auckland route from three to four times per week.  As well as this, the Taiwan-based airline has confirmed that during this period, all four of these services will be upguaged from an A330-300 to a Boeing 747-400.

Charles Spillane, Auckland Airport’s acting general manager aeronautical commercial, says he is delighted with the announcement.  “These two initiatives from China Airlines immediately increase capacity on this route by 15,000 seats over the New Zealand high season.”

“China Airlines commenced its service in New Zealand in January 2011 with three flights on the Taipei - Brisbane - Auckland route per week.  In November 2012, the airline then launched four flights per week on the Taipei - Sydney - Auckland route,” says Mr Spillane.  “This latest increase in flights now means there are a total of eight flights between Taipei and Auckland each week over the summer period.”

“This continued growth in seat capacity shows the strong demand China Airlines has experienced in the New Zealand inbound market,” continues Mr Spillane.  “In the year ended June 2014 we saw Taiwanese arrivals to Auckland increase by nine per cent when compared to the year before.”

“Not only does China Airlines play the most significant role in serving the Taiwan to New Zealand market but it is also providing full-services on the trans-Tasman route.  We are delighted with the success this airline is experiencing in New Zealand,” finishes Mr Spillane.

China Airlines New Zealand general manager, Joseph Wu, says, “The Australasian market is one of the most important markets for China Airlines.  The decision to add capacity on the New Zealand market is a reflection of the growing demand from Taiwan.  We are confident that we will achieve great success during this peak summer season.”