If ultra-long haul flying is the last frontier of aviation, just waiting to be explored, than Air New Zealand can't wait to get started. Geography makes Air New Zealand, based in a remote country of five million, an obvious player. The two longest flights in the world both serve Auckland, and four of the top five longest flights (operating or scheduled to operate) serve Auckland or Sydney. Luxon said he envisions flying to New York (about 8,800 miles) and Chicago once the airline secures new airplanes. The U.S.-New Zealand market, Luxon said, is primarily for “premium leisure travelers,” a market Air New Zealand targets with high service levels.

Source: Forbes September 09, 2017 15:45 UTC