Air New Zealand: new Maroochydore/Sunshine Coast-Auckland flights

IN BRIEF: Air New Zealand is introducing new trans-Tasman flights between Maroochydore/Sunshine Coast and Auckland -- Sunshine Coast's first international services.

Flights will run between Auckland and the Sunshine Coast twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Sundays. Initially, the flights will run "on a seasonal basis between 1 July and 18 September," an Air New Zealand statement says.

Air NZ's CEO Rob Fyfe elaborated: "While we're trialling this new service on a seasonal basis between July and mid September it may be possible to extend the season if there's enough demand."

The new flights are useful for business travellers from the area, with potential connections from Air NZ's Auckland hub to Los Angeles and San Francisco potentially most convenient.

Air New Zealand will use Airbus A320 planes on the route, in an all-economy layout where the top offering is the extra-legroom, middle-seat-empty Works Deluxe.

Virgin Australia passengers will see reciprocal benefits on board as part of Virgin's Trans-Tasman alliance with Air NZ.

John Walton

Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.