Air New Zealand Announces Sydney – Rarotonga Services
Air New Zealand will from July operate direct services between Sydney and the Cook Islands , making it the first airline
to operate direct services between the two nations.
Flights will operate once a week for a four month trial period during the peak holiday season of July to October.
The seventeen return services on a Sunday from Sydney and Friday from Rarotonga will be operated by a 223 seat Boeing
767-300 with a configuration of 199 economy and 24 business class seats.
Flight time for the 5,000km journey is six hours from Sydney and seven hours 15 minutes from Rarotonga .
“We already carry a large number of passengers between Australia and the Cook Islands via Auckland ,” says Air New
Zealand General Manager Tasman Pacific Airline Glen Sowry.
“The Cook Islands , including Aitutaki, is a very attractive destination to Australian travellers looking for a unique
South Pacific experience.
“The introduction of direct services will provide a valuable boost to the Cook Islands community and with the support of
the Cooks Islands Government and Cook Islands Tourism we will be working hard to make this trial a success.”
Lead-in one-way economy fares from Sydney start at AU$487 and from Rarotonga from NZ$588.
Schedule is as follows:
Sunday 04 July – Sunday 26 September Sydney-Rarotonga 1900/0500
Friday 09 July – Friday 01 October Rarotonga-Sydney 1735/2050+1 day
Due NSW daylight savings commencing 3 October, the schedule will alter as follows:
Sunday 03 October – Sunday 24 October Sydney-Rarotonga 2000/0500
Friday 08 October – Friday 29 October Rarotonga-Sydney 1635/2050+1 day
ENDS