Air fares are coming down. This is partly because of low oil prices but also because of competition. More airlines want to bring tourists to New Zealand and take New Zealand tourists to their countries.
Across the world, 3.5 billion travellers are travelling by aircraft. In New Zealand, we are hoping to have nearly 4 million tourists visit here each year. For a population of less than 5 million, this is a large number for us to manage.
Air lines are competing by offering direct service. For example, Emirates has a new service direct from Dubai to Auckland which takes 17 hours 15 minutes. If you travel from Auckland to Dubai, your flight will connect with many European flights.
Air New Zealand made an after tax profit of $463m for the year ended June 30, the most in its 76-year history. The company is investing that profit in new, more efficient aircraft, like the Boeing 787-9, which has better fuel efficiency.
It’s a good time to fly because the competition means cheaper fares and more choices.