Bungys and bridge climbs on Queenstown-Auckland flights

Air New Zealand is celebrating three decades of flying flights between Queenstown and Auckland today with some fun giveaways for passengers.

Direct flights between the two destinations began 30 years ago today.

Air New Zealand domestic general manager Scott Carr says there'll be extra treats onboard to mark the milestone.

A Boeing 737-300 in Queenstown in 2011 (Image: Supplied/Air NZ).

“Everyone boarding a flight between Auckland and Queenstown today will get an extra Cookie Time treat, and we thought it was only fitting to give away some iconic adventure activities onboard a few select flights," he says.

"Customers travelling from Auckland to Queenstown could be enjoying a scenic TSS Earnslaw Cruise thanks to RealNZ or a giant swing or bungy jump thanks AJ Hackett Bungy. We also haven’t forgotten about those travelling north, with Bridge Climbs and Sky Jumps, and Wētā Workshop Unleashed experiences in Auckland up for grabs."

In the past decade alone, the airline has carried more than seven million customers between the two locations and this coming summer will operate up to 116 return services a week, increasing to 156 over the Christmas period.

Mr Carr has been with the airline for 35 years and says he remembers the first few years of flying between Auckland and Queenstown well.

“I was based in Christchurch when we launched the direct Auckland to Queenstown service and I remember what a milestone moment it was. Connecting New Zealand’s main international hub directly with the Southern Lakes region was a game-changer, and three decades later this service is now the third-most popular on our domestic network.”

It’s not just a popular route for customers. The service also provides an important cargo link between the lower South Island and Auckland.

“We carry a large amount of cargo between the two centres,” Mr Carr says.

“One of the key products we transport on this route is lobster, which we started carrying in August 2013. Today, the crustacean accounts for approximately 250 tonnes of cargo carried north from Queenstown each year.”

Air New Zealand's giant lolly jar has also been brought to town for the occasion, and is set up at Queenstown Central, giving locals a chance to guess the number of lollies it holds and be in to win a share of one-million Airpoints dollars.

Queenstown Airport boss Glen Sowry says approximately half the passengers who travel through Queenstown Airport fly Queenstown to Auckland route.

"Its introduction 30 years ago helped forge strong links between New Zealand’s largest city and the Southern Lakes region. It enables efficient, convenient travel for business or leisure, as well as creating long-haul connections with Asia, North America, and Europe. Air New Zealand was also the first airline to adopt RNP (Required Navigation Performance) flight procedures into Queenstown, which created a step change in reliability in and out of the airport, and had a hugely positive effect for our region.”

The Air New Zealand lolly jar promotion is coming to Queenstown (Image: Facebook/Air NZ).

30 years between ZQN and AKL:

On October 17, 1994, Air New Zealand launched its first direct service between Auckland and Queenstown operating daily flights with a Boeing 737-200
By the beginning of the millennium, a second daily flight was added during peak periods such as Easter, July school holidays, and Christmas
In 2002, the route became the airline's twelfth busiest on the domestic network, and the Boeing 737-300 was introduced
By 2004, a third daily service was added during peak periods
Significant expansion occurred between 2009 and 2010, with up to six flights a day during peak periods, and the route became the fifth busiest on the airline’s domestic network
On May 23, 2016 Air New Zealand operated flight NZ613, the first domestic after-dark flight from Auckland to Queenstown. This was a historic moment for Queenstown Airport, the Southern Lakes region, and a major milestone for New Zealand aviation
By 2017, the Auckland to Queenstown route had become the third busiest on the domestic network and remains in that spot today
Since 2002, Air New Zealand has carried over 10 million passengers between the two destinations
This summer, the airline will operate up to 116 return services a week, increasing to 156 over the Christmas period

Main image (Supplied/Queenstown Airport): An Air New Zealand Boeing 737-200 at Queenstown Airport.