Air New Zealand ends service to LHR after 38 years

theguzman

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/116796427/air-nz-to-axe-london-flights-after-36-years?rm=m

https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2019/10/22/air-new-zealand-to-cancel-london-route/

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/kiwi-traveller/116800281/air-new-zealand-the-first-flights-to-london

Air New Zealand is to end its flights from Auckland to London Heathrow via Los Angeles from October 2020.

The company will instead fly direct from Newark to Auckland in what will be one of the worlds longest flights at a 17hrs 40 mins marathon journey to our antipodean rugby rivals.

I will be sad to see it go as it was a flight I never got to go on and since New Zealand is as far away as you can possibly go it is the biggest air journey any of us could ever take from Ireland. Also it is the longest single aircraft route in the world as the Boeing 787 leaves Heathrow for Los Angeles before refuelling for the mammoth crossing across the mighty pacific ocean from North to South.

Flying via Dubai or any of the ME3 hubs has none of the old school glamour as this route had, the same aircraft all the way to Auckland. Air New Zealand were the true pioneers of ultra longhaul as they were unencumbered by the former Soviet Union with overflight access etc.

In the beginnings the flight would make two stop-over's in Papeete and then onto Los Angeles for Heathrow until Aircraft technology became more fuel efficient. In November 1995, Queen Elizabeth II landed in Auckland aboard Air New Zealand flight NZ1 from London via Los Angeles onboard her first ever commercial scheduled flight.

So next October as NZ1 lifts off from London Heathrow a unique little piece of aviation history will fly into the sunset for the final time.

coylemj

theguzman wrote: »

In November 1995, Queen Elizabeth II landed in Auckland aboard Air New Zealand flight NZ1 from London via Los Angeles onboard her first ever commercial scheduled flight.

I recalled that 'event' the minute I saw the thread title.

Before anyone asks if she had to join the queue for the loo or order a drink from the trolley, I recall that it was a 747 and the entire upper deck was reserved for the royal party.

California Dreamer

When BMI was flying there was always great value to had in redemption flights on Star Alliance and one of the best flights to get the NZ LHR-LAX in business for very low miles. The service on the 747 was excellent! I haven't been on it in years but what a service it provided.

LXFlyer

The end of an era, as direct flights have existed between London and Auckland since 1963 when BOAC launched twice weekly services with a De Havilland Comet 4.

Slightly more stops though!

BA720 LHR-ROM-DAM-KHI-CCU-RGN-SIN-DRW-SYD-AKL CM4 FY 2

London-Rome-Damascus-Karachi-Calcutta-Rangoon-Singapore-Darwin-Sydney-Auckland

Quite a trek!

fits

Ive caught it flying over here on flightradar a couple of times. Would love to have taken it back to New Zealand some day.

Tenger

still a year to try it out?

MugMugs

Are they keeping the slot or selling it on?

ednwireland

jeez it was only a rugby game !!!!

jd

Got the London-La leg once back in 2010. We missed our connection to Sfo so was put on this, with the final leg to Sfo on one of the frequent shuttles. Very good on flight service, From what I remember.

Sheep Shagger

They've bought forward the end of the route to tomorrow due to COVID-19

https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120396606/coronavirus-air-new-zealand-closing-london-base-tomorrow-130-crew-affected?cid=facebook.post

LHR slot sold and the NZ government has also just bailed out the airline to the tune of $900m

Carawaystick

A Friend of mine came home from Down Under on this.
Met him after work on a wet Tuesday in Fagans, He left NZ Tue Morning and had been travelling for over 24 hours.
as the pints sank
What day is it? was asked more than once.

Charles Babbage

On a RTW I travelled this route in Business class, with a few days in Tahiti. Them was the days.

PinOnTheRight

Charles Babbage wrote: »

On a RTW I travelled this route in Business class, with a few days in Tahiti. Them was the days.

One of the crew is tweeting from ANZ2
https://twitter.com/belowmda/status/1241138248694431744?s=21

Captain_Crash

And here they are landing this morning

https://twitter.com/bt77w/status/1241309244324003840?s=21

Tenger

Oddly I actually saw this aircraft on stand the other day.
I noted the mis-coloured #2 engine cowling. Light grey rather than white!

circular flexing

Captain_Crash wrote: »

And here they are landing this morning

https://twitter.com/bt77w/status/1241309244324003840?s=21

Interesting that the captain of this flight was the son of the captain of the first flight on that route.