Latest news with #GregForan
Scoop
11 hours ago
- Business
- Scoop
Air New Zealand, Air China, & Tourism NZ Announce Strategic Investment To Boost Chinese Travel Demand To Aotearoa
In a step to further support the revitalisation of Chinese tourism to New Zealand, Air New Zealand, Air China, and Tourism New Zealand have today announced a partnership aimed at strengthening travel from China to New Zealand. The tripartite partnership will see nearly half a million NZD invested from the three organisations going toward stimulating inbound tourism from China, in addition to Air New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand's existing investments in the market. Over the next 12 months, Air New Zealand will invest more than $700,000 in marketing through strategic partnerships – an addition to the airline's significant and ongoing marketing commitment in China. The new funding will be used to support a marketing campaign to drive greater awareness of New Zealand as a preferred destination for Chinese travellers. It is also an opportunity to highlight the longstanding alliance between Air New Zealand and Air China launched in 2015, which has provided greater connectivity, codeshare convenience, and a seamless customer experience for travellers between China and New Zealand. China is New Zealand's third largest source of international visitors, comprising around 8% of total visitor arrivals. In the year to March 2025, 248,000 Chinese travellers visited New Zealand, up 18 per cent on the prior year. Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran said the airline's service between Shanghai and Auckland are going from strength to strength. "China is an incredibly important market for us, and we're proud of the role our Shanghai service has played in connecting people, cargo, and cultures over the past decade. This joint investment is an opportunity to further stimulate travel demand to encourage growth in inbound tourism from China to New Zealand. 'We're looking forward to having our brand-new cabins on our 787 aircraft flying to Shanghai on occasion, offering Chinese customers the opportunity to be among the first to experience our enhanced onboard experience. From October, we'll see a 33% increase in premium seats on the Shanghai–Auckland route, giving customers even more opportunity to travel with additional space and comfort to New Zealand." Mr. Ma Chongxian, the Chairman of CNAH, expressed confidence in the recovery of China-New Zealand market and the alliance partnership between Air China and Air New Zealand. 'New Zealand market has always been the key focus in our Asia-Pacific network. We have deeply engaged in Beijing-Auckland service since 2015. As our strategic alliance with Air New Zealand reinforces the mutual trust and support, our network, products and services have been optimized along the way. The partnership has played a positive role in jointly promoting economic and trade growth and fostering cross-cultural communication between China and New Zealand. 'Embracing the second decade of China-New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the tenth anniversary of the alliance partnership between Air China and Air New Zealand, we would like to join Air New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand in further facilitating market recovery and expanding collaborations to deepen practical cooperation and improve customer experience.' Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive René de Monchy said there is an audience of around 60 million people in China 'actively considering' a holiday to New Zealand. 'We're looking forward to working with Air New Zealand and Air China to get them booking trips to come and enjoy destination New Zealand sooner rather than later.' He said Chinese visitors were drawn to New Zealand's culture, friendliness, and natural scenery including mountains and lakes, hiking and national parks. "China's travel behaviour evolves rapidly. For example, we are seeing growth in smaller visitor groups that are staying for longer and getting out to enjoy more experiences and visit more regions.' New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said: 'This partnership between Air New Zealand, Air China, and Tourism New Zealand is another step toward turbocharging New Zealand's tourism recovery and growth. As we work to rebuild our visitor economy, stimulating demand from key markets like China, which was our largest inbound tourism market pre-Covid, is essential to creating jobs, supporting businesses, and strengthening communities across the country. This strategic investment will not only boost awareness of Aotearoa as a unique and welcoming destination but also deepen the connections between our peoples and cultures. We are committed to backing initiatives that bring more visitors here, ensuring tourism continues to be a driver of prosperity for all New Zealanders.' This initiative reaffirms the strong commitment from both airlines and New Zealand's tourism sector to support economic recovery and reestablish vital people-to-people ties between the two nations.
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Chiefs defeat Brumbies 37-17
Ryan Bridge speaks to International affairs expert regarding the evacuation of US troops in Iraq. Herald NOW: Daily Sports Update: June 13 2025 Air NZ CEO Greg Foran speaks with Ryan Bridge on Herald NOW after Air India crash Herald NOW: Daily News Update: June 13 2025 I'm in Texas to visit Amazon Web Service's computer chip design lab to see how it's preparing for an AI compute boom and competing with Nvidia. Officials say the Boeing 787 aircraft had 242 passengers and crew on board when the accident occurred. The ute careens out of the off-ramp onto Ngauranga Gorge, clipping a car travelling on SH1. Video / Luke Drabble Footage captures lengthy queues for those heading home from Wellington CBD tonight after a crash on Ngauranga Gorge. Video / NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Animal skulls, flesh-eating beetles and good honest pessimism: the life and work of Bruce Mahalski. Video / Frank Film MetService Severe weather - 12-14 June. Video / MetService Anti-ICE demonstrations continued across several American cities and Finance Minister Nicola Willis criticised the Reserve Bank over Adrian Orr's resignation. Fire and Emergency received a call for a house fire on Bucklands Beach Road at 8.40pm on Wednesday. Video / NZ Herald Emergency services rushed to the South Auckland suburb of Favona after a freight train and truck collided yesterday around 7:45pm. Video / NZ Herald The co-owner of the first PAK'nSAVE on 40 years of serving communities. Behind the scenes at the Smokefree Rockquest Regional Finals in Manawatū.
1News
13-06-2025
- Business
- 1News
'It reverberates': Air NZ boss on Air India tragedy
More than 240 people have been killed when an Air India plane bound for London crashed moments after taking off from the city of Ahmedabad in India on Thursday (India time), authorities said. It's the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade and the first loss of life in a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The police say the sole survivor managed to jump out an emergency exit. Air NZ chief executive Greg Foran told Morning Report he had been in touch with Air India's Kiwi chief executive Campbell Wilson and offered his company's support. He had also contacted Singapore Airlines which has a shareholding in Air India. ADVERTISEMENT The morning's headlines in 90 seconds including Air India crash, ferry still out of action, and ignoring TikTok KiwiSaver hacks. (Source: 1News) He expressed his condolences to colleagues in India dealing with the tragedy. "It reverberates, we're all impacted, it's passengers, it's all the staff who were involved. We've been working on it in the evening and offering whatever support we can." 'Not making enough lift' - watch interview with aviation expert on TVNZ+ Foran, who has just returned from several days in New Delhi, said he was up-to-date with what was happening in how the aviation industry was being developed in India. Both its major airlines, Air India and Indigo, had major expansion plans with a lot of airports being built and planes on order. "It's a burgeoning industry and it's really well run." ADVERTISEMENT The plane that crashed was a Dreamliner-8 while Air New Zealand had the slightly bigger Dreamliner-9. Air New Zealand got its first order of Dreamliners in 2014, more in 2017 and was awaiting delivery of another eight. "We've had a great run with that particular aircraft." The current ones had Trent Rolls-Royce engines while the new ones would have General Electric Gen-X engines, similar to that on the Air India plane. It was too early to speculate on whether it was an engine issue that caused the crash, Foran said. A massive "ecosystem" would be responding to what has happened in order to try and find out what has gone wrong with various regulators and companies involved. "Until people get a bit further into the investigation you don't want to speculate but I am very comfortable that the quality of what we are flying today and will fly tomorrow is at the standard required." ADVERTISEMENT However, if the regulators came back with new directives they would be incorporated into its operation. "Air New Zealand remains a very very safe airline," Foran said. Meanwhile, the New Zealand High Commission in New Delhi said it was responding to the event and was in touch with local authorities. It said it had no reason at this time to believe that any New Zealanders were on the flight.
RNZ News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Morning Report Essentials for Friday 13 June 2025
crime politics 10:00 am today In today's episode, at least 290 people have been killed when an Air India plane bound for London crashed minutes after taking off from the city of Ahmedabad, Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran has been in touch with the Air India to offer his support, we have our weekly political panel, and we cross the ditch to talk to our correspondent in Australia.
RNZ News
11-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Air NZ to start flights to new Western Sydney airport by mid-2027
Western Sydney International Airport. Photo: Western Sydney Airport Air New Zealand has penned an agreement to start flights to the new Western Sydney International Airport from mid-2027. It will become the first trans-Tasman airline to sign up for flights to the new airport, due to open in early 2026. The initial route will connect Auckland and Western Sydney, but is subject to aircraft availability. The airline said the new route would complement Air New Zealand's existing services to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran said the airport "represents an exciting step forward" for Australia's aviation sector. "We're delighted to be the first trans-Tasman carrier to signal our intent to operate there as we continue to grow," he said. As opposed to Kingsford Smith Airport, Western Sydney International Airport would operate 24-hours a day without curfews. WSI chief executive Simon Hickey said "this new strategic partnership, supported by the Western Sydney International Take-off Fund, will connect one of Australia's most diverse and fastest growing regions - Western Sydney - with New Zealand's largest city and main holiday gateway." The Take-Off Fund is a New South Wales state government initiative which offers incentives such as cost-offsetting, marketing and operational support to encourage airlines to create new routes to the airport. The state's Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper, said the airport was "getting ready for take-off". "This is the first new route secured through the Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund, and a route that I am sure will no doubt be very popular," Kamper said. Air New Zealand recently launched a Christchurch-Adelaide route as part of its Tasman growth strategy. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
