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☆ From cocktails to free rides, World Cup co-hosts fight to woo back tourists
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In 2022, there were only about 1.4 million visitors, according to data provided by the government, still considerably below pre-pandemic levels. That’s why events like the Women’s World Cup are so important. Cities like Wellington and Auckland have catered to World Cup tourists by making public transportation free on game days for anyone with a match ticket. The extra effort has not gone unnoticed by tourists, especially those who have traveled to other World Cup events. Compared to the last Women’s World Cup in France, more businesses seem excited to welcome tourists, said US fan Carly Andler.

Persons: James Johnson, “, ” Johnson, ”, Monchy, CNN’s Richard Quest, Iain Walker, Chow Tory, Chow Tory's, Tara Subramaniam, Carly Andler, Andler, we’ve Organizations: Wellington CNN — Soccer, Football Australia, Tourism, Zealand’s Ministry of Business Innovation, New Zealand, Air New Zealand, FIFA, CNN, New Zealand’s Football Ferns, Wellington Chocolate Factory, Wellington City Council Locations: Australia, New Zealand, Tourism New Zealand, New, Tourism Australia, Cities, Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin, Hamilton, United States, Costa Rica, Spanish, Swedish, Italy, Japan, Rosebud, Bundaberg, Zealand, France

☆ I flew 20 hours from Australia to the US in United Airline's Polaris business class. The flight was a game changer and I'll definitely be flying it again — here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Rachel Dube | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Rachel Dube took a 20-hour flight with United Polaris business class. Dube says the flight went very quickly and she would fly United's Polaris business class again. A Polaris Business class seat. I found that it was a game-changer during the twenty hours spent flyingThis wasn't my first time flying United Polaris business class, but I found it helped me combat jet lag. Overall, I loved the space, comfort, and service onboard United's Polaris business class and I will definitely be flying it again.

Persons: Rachel Dube, Dube, I've, I'm, I, I'd, Sunday Riley, Riley toiletries, Rachel Organizations: United Polaris, Polaris, Morning, Newark Liberty International, United Airlines, United, Boeing, Brisbane International Airport, Air New Zealand, Star Alliance, Saks, Sunday, luxe, tote Locations: New Jersey, Brisbane, Australia, Europe, BNE, San Francisco, Newark

☆ US startup Joby is building an electric aircraft it wants to use to fly people between airports and cities for the price of an Uber — take a look
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The growing electric air taxi market is expected to be a $57 billion industry by 2035. Startups are racing to build the first certified eVTOL thanks to investments from airlines like United and Delta. Joby Aviation recently got the green light to start flight testing of its five-seater S4 2.0 eVTOL. The era of electric air taxis is almost here, and there are several competitors vying for a piece of the lucrative market. In 2021, United Airlines placed a $1 billion order for Archer's Midnight eVTOL, while Delta Air Lines invested $60 million into Joby Aviation in 2022.

Persons: Joby, Uber Organizations: Delta, Joby Aviation, Morning, Archer, Aerospace, EVE Air Mobility, Boeing, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Air New, American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Paris Airshow Locations: Air New Zealand

☆ New Zealand will require 900 firms to report gender pay gaps
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Around 900 businesses with more than 250 employees will be asked to report their gender pay gaps in the proposed legislation, Tinetti said in a statement. The requirement will eventually be extended over four years to cover companies that employ more than 100 workers, encompassing around 2,700 firms, she added. Requiring companies to publish their gender pay gap will encourage them to address the drivers of those gaps and increase transparency for workers,” she said. New Zealand has made progress in its public service sector, with women holding more than half of top tier senior management roles and the gender pay gap has shrunk to a record-low of 7.7%. In the private sector, around 200 companies including Air New Zealand and Spark voluntarily report or plan to report their gender pay gap, according to Tinetti.

Persons: Women Jan Tinetti, Tinetti, Spark, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, “ We’ve, ” Radhakrishnan, Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins Organizations: CNN, New, Women, Labour, Organisation for Economic Co, Development, Air New, Zealand, Workplace Relations, Party Locations: New Zealand, Air New Zealand, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Pacific

☆ The world’s best airlines for 2023, according to Skytrax
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Now, for the fifth time in the accolades’ 23-year history, it’s been named best airline in the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards 2023. The Qatar flag carrier bossed it in business class, with wins for World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Seat, World’s Best Business Class Lounge (the Al Mourjan lounge at Hamad International Airport), World’s Best Business Class Lounge Dining and Best Airline in the Middle East. Scoot was the World’s Best Long-Haul Low-Cost Airline and Volotea won out in the very competitive Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe category. Garuda Indonesia’s cabin staff were voted the world’s best, Cathay Pacific won World’s Best Inflight Entertainment and Bangkok Airways was once again the World’s Best Regional Airline. Delta Air Lines was named Best Airline in North America, with the Best Airline Staff Service for the region, while Sun Country Airlines was named Best Low-Cost Airline in North America title for the first time Alaska Airlines was North America’s Best Regional Airline.

Persons: it’s, ”, Edward Plaisted, Goh Choon Phong, –, Al, Scoot, Volotea Organizations: CNN, Singapore Airlines, Air and Space Museum, Paris Air, SIA, Qatar Airways –, Japan’s ANA All Nippon Airways, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Qatar, World’s, Hamad International Airport, ANA, World’s Best, Services, Kuwait Airways, AirAsia, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Entertainment, Bangkok Airways, . Delta Air Lines, Best Airline Staff Service, Sun Country Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Airlines, Qatar Airways, ANA All Nippon Airways, Turkish Airlines, Air, Cathay, Korean, Hainan Airlines, Int’l Air, Etihad Airways, Iberia, Fiji Airways, Qantas Airways, British Airways, Air New Zealand, Delta Air Lines, Garuda, Thai Airways, Transavia, Southwest Airlines, Vueling, Ryanair, Jetstar Airways, Friendly, Virgin Atlantic Locations: Singapore, Europe, North America, Air France, Garuda Indonesia, Transavia France

☆ The future of travel: 10 concepts that will change the way we experience the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Kate Springer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +22 min

Concepts that feel plucked from sci-fi novels and films are quickly making their way into mainstream travel, shaping every step of the journey. Seamus PayneLike air travel, eco-conscious hotels are paving the way for more sustainable travel in the future. HyperloopTTUS entrepreneur Elon Musk has been talking about hyperloop technology – an ultra-high-speed transport system in a low-pressure vacuum tube – for years. Meanwhile, Toronto-based TransPod hopes to bring hyperloop technology to Canada with its eponymous tube-based transportation system powered by renewable energy. By 2025, the company plans to build a 620-mile-per-hour TransPod link between Calgary and Edmonton, connecting the two cities in 45 minutes.

Persons: Elijah Nouvelage, Indira Gandhi, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Austin Farmer, we’ll, don’t, David ”, you’ll, Alexander the Great, ” Michael Breer, KAWS, collectables –, Breer, ” Breer, You’ve, ” Jetson, Peter Ternstrom, Apollo, Cruise, ”, what’s, Boom’s, –, Seamus Payne, room2, Marcel Breuer, Tesla, charades, Yusaku Maezawa, Elon Musk, hyperloop, Virgin Hyperloop, HyperloopTT, Hardt Hyperloop Organizations: CNN, Travel, Hartsfield, Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Bloomberg, Getty, Dubai International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport, Indira, Indira Gandhi International, European Union, Emirates, Dubai International, American Airlines, United, Delta, Bluetooth, Alaska Airlines, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Specterras Productions, CNN Travel, VR, Aircraft, Federal Aviation Administration, Baidu, Hyundai, Las, CNN Travel ., Alphabet Inc, Beta, International Civil Aviation Organization, Alice, DHL, Air New, Concorde, Japan Airlines, Bauhaus, CEH Technologies, Origin, SpaceX, International Space, NASA, Galactic, Space Training Academy, Nastar Center, Boring Company, Virgin, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, China Morning Post, China Aerospace Science, Industry Corporation, European Hyperloop Center Locations: Singapore, Dubai, Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda, Delhi, London Heathrow, Paris, Dutch, Europe, Florence, Palmyra, Machu Picchu, New York, Ehang, China, Boston, Las Vegas, Motional, Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, North America, Austin, Beijing, Chongqing, Wuhan, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Mexico, Air New Zealand, Denver, New York City, Frankfurt, LA, Sydney, London, New Haven , Connecticut, Hungarian, Norway, Red, Saudi Arabia, Amsterdam, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Shanxi province, Netherlands, Toronto, Canada, Calgary, Edmonton

☆ How AirTags and luggage trackers became the hottest travel accessory
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

That’s right: compact, portable and potentially snatching your perfect vacation from the jaws of lost luggage disaster, the travel accessory of the moment is the humble luggage tracker. “There remain significant problems with lost luggage this year, and this is likely to be worse still in the peak travel period this summer. Possibly because he was one of many: “At one point the agent I was emailing with told me that the building had thousands of lost bags,” he said. Elliot SharodElliot Sharod was one of the first to go viral for tracking his lost luggage through its AirTag. Both Lufthansa and Air New Zealand seemingly banned bag trackers in the hold last year – before swiftly reversing the ban in both cases.

Persons: ” Thomas Romig, Rory Boland, That’s, you’ve, Kate Bevan, it’s, you’ll, you’re, ”, Boland, Jai Rawat, Jai Rawat Jai Rawat, “, –, Virgin, – Rawat, he’d, Rawat, James D, Morgan, Emily McNutt, ” Boland, ’ Elliot Sharod's, Elliot Sharod Elliot Sharod, Sharod, they’re, Bevan, Andrew Kelly, SITA, David Lavorel, Jonas Walzberg, It’s, Boland – Organizations: CNN, Airports, International, SITA, Virgin Atlantic, London Heathrow, Heathrow, Rawat, ‘ Airlines, Samsung Galaxy, “ Passengers, Aer Lingus, Google, Samsung, Apple, Lufthansa, Air New, FAA, Airlines, Reuters, Delta, Twitter, “ Locations: –, London, San Francisco, California, South Africa, Air New Zealand

☆ ‘We’re paying twice for the same experience’: Plus-size travelers hit out at ‘discriminatory’ airline seat policies
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Policies around plus-size travelers tend to vary from airline to airline. However, the rule only applies to domestic flights, which means that plus-size travelers still need to buy an extra seat when going on an international flight. Constant challenges“The stereotypes that surround plus-size travelers, and the hostility towards us when we’re traveling by plane is honestly horrendous,” she adds. “This [shrinking seats] has had such a negative impact on plus-size travelers,” says Leanne. “The agency is reviewing the thousands of comments it received on whether current seat size and spacing affect passenger evacuation,” the FAA said in a statement.

Persons: Chaney, Jae'lynn Chaney, Jae’lynn Chaney, ” Chaney, Charles Leocha, ”, Juan Silva, couldn’t, hadn’t, we’re, Robert Alexander, Gabor Lukacs, ” Lukacs, “, she’s, isn’t, Kirsty Leanne, Leanne, Lukacs, “ I’m, Jake Organizations: CNN, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, CNN Travel, “, Travelers United, Australian Consumer Law, Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz, Canadian Transportation Agency, ”, ” United Airlines, American Airlines, Fort Worth International, Getty, World Obesity Federation, FAA, Flyers, Samoa Air, Polynesian Airlines, Air New Zealand Locations: Kona , Hawaii, Canada, ” United, Dallas, Samoa, New Zealand

☆ The UK announces $12 entry fee for travelers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Get the latest news in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments. CNN —The United States has been charging visitors for electronic travel authorization since 2009, and now the United Kingdom and the European Union are rolling out entry fees, too. Also in our latest CNN Travel roundup, we bring you a double-decker plane seat and bunk beds in the sky. UK to charge travelers for entryVisa waiver schemes have been around for a while.

Persons: it’s, Bunk, all’s, we’ve, James Beard, CNN There’s Organizations: CNN, European Union, CNN Travel, United, ETA, Edinburgh, Eiffel, Coliseum, Acropolis, –, CNN CNN Travel, Aircraft, Lufthansa, . Law, Tourists, North Carolina Zoo Locations: United States, United Kingdom, Europe, London, Kingdom, Qatar, Germany, Air, Pacific, Philadelphia, Korea

☆ Economy class airplane bunk beds get seal of approval as launch moves closer
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Now the concept’s got the industry seal of approval via a prestigious Crystal Cabin Award, presented at the 2022 Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, Germany. “Bunk-bed solution for economy class – this is something which you regularly see as a concept,” said Kaestner. “But we rarely see this level of innovation actually becoming a real product that’s flying.”Winning designsThe Skynest concept offers a lie-flat option for economy passengers. Courtesy Air New ZealandThe Crystal Cabin Awards announced its longlist earlier this year, before whittling the categories down to a shortlist. For student nominees, the Crystal Cabin Awards are “a fantastic way to get into the industry,” added Kaestner.

Persons: Skynest, Lukas Kaestner, Skynest isn’t, “ Bunk, ”, Collins, Kaestner, it’s heartening, there’s, they’ll, Alejandro Núñez Vicente, InteliSence Organizations: Germany CNN — Air, CNN Travel, New, Delft University of Technology, Delta, Air, Zealand, Thales Avionics “, Center, Safety, Teledyne, Collins Aerospace, Digital Services, University, Technical University of Delft Locations: Hamburg, Germany, Netherlands

☆ The double-decker airplane seat is back. Here’s what it looks like now
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

It might not sound particularly appealing on paper, but 23-year-old airplane seat designer Alejandro Núñez Vicente believes double-level seating is the future of economy flying. You may have seen a photo of Núñez Vicente’s Chaise Longue Airplane Seat prototype floating around the internet. Núñez Vicente envisages an airplane cabin in which the Chaise Longue is in the center, flanked by two rows of regular airplane seating. He says he designed the Chaise Longue to solve the airplane seat conundrum – not make it worse. The earlier iteration of the Chaise Longue Airplane Seat at AIX 2022.

Persons: Germany CNN —, Alejandro Núñez Vicente, Núñez, ” Núñez Vicente, ”, Núñez Vicente, they’ve, he’s, “, “ It’s, it’s, ” Alejandro Núñez Vicente, ’ ”, Núñez Vicente’s, Francesca Street, CNN Núñez Vicente, Clara Service Soto, van, didn’t, you’re, “ there’s, Service Soto, “ We’re, Vicente, He’s Organizations: Germany CNN, CNN Travel, Aircraft, legroom, 1OFF, CNN, AIX, Clara, Service, “ Locations: Hamburg, Germany, “, Madrid, Spain, Europe

☆ Travel news: Best airlines, city break inspirations and ambitious bridges
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —In CNN Travel’s latest news roundup, we bring you the world’s best airlines for 2023, city break inspiration from Texas to Mongolia to Ecuador and why China might have overstretched itself by building a 15-mile, $6.7 billion bridge. Air New Zealand – which just topped a list of 2023’s best airlines – is on the case by asking all of its international departing travelers to hop on the scales as part of a passenger weight survey, the results of which are thankfully anonymous. Destination inspirationPop quiz: What was the world’s first capital city be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site? And now that the country’s president has vowed to revitalize the city, the future’s looking bright, too. Here’s our roundup of 20 of the world’s best nude beaches.

Persons: CNN —, CNN Travel’s, Genghis, Kublai, it’s, Richard Linklater’s, Matthew McConaughey’s, San, Trevi Fountain, Venice, ”, Mount Everest’s Organizations: CNN, Air, Zealand, Federal Aviation Administration, Airbus, UNESCO, Developers, Pride Locations: Texas, Mongolia, Ecuador, China, United States, America, Rome, Athens, Quito, Inca, Karakorum, Austin , Texas, Bay Area, San Francisco, New York, Rwanda, Kigali, Dubai, Nantucket, Mount

☆ Air New Zealand has been ranked the best airline in the world, a study found. See which others made the top 10.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Air New Zealand has been ranked the best airline in the world by AirlineRatings.com. Air New Zealand has been ranked the best airline in the world by AirlineRatings.com, a website for airline safety and product reviews. Air New Zealand was ranked first for best economy class; Qatar Airways took the lead for business class; and Singapore Airlines was ranked the best first-class airline. Air New ZealandSafety: 7/7Product: 7/7Air New Zealand, or Air NZ, is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand. Korean Air has an average score of 7.8/10 based on 60 AirlineRatings.com reviews.

Persons: Geoffrey Thomas, Taylor Rains, Johannes P, Virgin Atlantic Sir Richard Branson, Steve Parsons, Richard Branson, Emirates Yursi Abu Barak Organizations: Morning, Air New, Qatar Airways, Air, Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Delta, US, Ryanair, New Zealand, Air New Zealand Air, Air New Zealand, Air NZ, . Air NZ, Qatar Airways Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Etihad Airways Airbus, Etihad, UAE, Korean Air Korean, Airlines, Korean Air, Christo, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, SIA, Qantas Qantas, Qantas Media Safety, Qantas, Virgin, Virgin Atlantic Boeing, Heathrow Airport, Virgin Atlantic, Delta Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways Cathay, Boeing, Cathay, Nikkei, Emirates, Dubai . Emirates, UAE . Emirates Locations: Zealand, Air New Zealand, Europe, Air, Auckland , New Zealand, Doha, Qatar, Al Jazeera, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Seoul, South Korea, Bali , Indonesia, Singapore, Asia, Mascot, Australia, Virgin Australia, Crawley , England, Taoyuan City, Taiwan, East Asia, Cathay Pacific Airways Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong, Nikkei Asia, Dubai ., Emirates, Dubai

☆ Air New Zealand is asking passengers to volunteer to be weighed before boarding and reassures them that details will not be shared: 'No one can see your weight, not even us'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Air New Zealand is asking passengers to volunteer to be weighed before boarding. But that's exactly what Air New Zealand is asking its passengers to do in what it calls a "passenger weight survey." Air New Zealand's "passenger weight survey" is voluntary, the airline said. Should passengers feel uncomfortable being weighed, they can simply choose to decline to participate in the survey, the representative said. Passengers will be asked to volunteer to step on the scales only on select Air New Zealand flights departing from Auckland International Airport.

Persons: Alastair James, James, you'll Organizations: New Zealand's Civil Aviation Authority, Morning, Air, Air New Zealand, Auckland International Airport Locations: Zealand, Air

☆ Air New Zealand to ask passengers to weigh themselves before boarding international flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An Air New Zealand airplane waits for passengers at Wellington International airport on February 20, 2020. Air New Zealand will ask passengers to weigh themselves before boarding international flights in a trial that aims to improve fuel efficiency. Air New Zealand said pilots need to know the weight and balance of the loaded aircraft before each take off. "Now that international travel is back up and running, it's time for international flyers to weigh in," the airline said in a statement. It is not the first airline to ask travelers to weigh themselves before flying.

Persons: Alastair James, you'll, James, Finnair Organizations: Air New Zealand, Wellington International, Air New, Air, Zealand, Auckland International Airport, European Aviation Safety Agency Locations: Air New Zealand, Zealand

☆ You can now pay $40 to get an empty seat next to you on some Qantas flights, and people can't decide if it's a luxury — or the airline making easy money off people
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Reena Koh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Qantas's new 'Neighbor Free' program lets passengers block the seat next to them for a fee. 48 hours prior to departure, those eligible will be invited via email to buy a 'Neighbor Free' seat. The "Neighbor Free" program allows passengers to reserve the seat next to them for some extra space or perhaps to avoid an overly chatty neighbor. "I think I would pay the extra dollars, a little extra room would be lovely," said a man to Today News reporter Izabella Staskowski. On other airlines— including Singapore Airlines — hot towels and amenity kits are handed out to long-haul passengers in coach.

Persons: Izabella Staskowski, James Macpherson, it's, Macpherson, Rita Panahi Organizations: Morning, Qantas Airways, Sky News, Qantas, Air New, Singapore Airlines Locations: Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Air New Zealand

☆ World’s best airline for 2023 named by AirlineRatings.com
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket/Getty ImagesAfter a couple of years of reduced air travel in the wake of the pandemic, travelers returned to the air in 2022 to significant airline chaos – canceled flights, lost luggage and overstretched staff. And interestingly, while Air New Zealand came out on top for 2023, Thomas said the results were close among the top five. Singapore Airlines took the fifth spot on AirlineRatings.com's 2023 list and also won the Best First Class award. Johannes P. Christo/Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesAbu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways is number 3 on AirlineRatings.com’s 2023 list. Singapore Airlines, named top in the Best First Class award and the Excellence in Long Haul Travel - Southeast Asia award, took fifth place overall.

Persons: AirlineRatings.com, –, ” Geoffrey Thomas, ” AirlineRatings.com, Marcos del Mazo, Thomas, Johannes P Organizations: CNN, Air, Zealand, CNN Travel, Zealand’s, Qatar Airways, Air New Zealand, Business, Catering, Long, Singapore Airlines, Christo, Anadolu Agency, Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways, Korean, North, ” Air, New, Civil Aviation Authority, Auckland International Airport, Etihad Airways, Qantas, Virgin, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, SAS, TAP, All Nippon Airways, Delta Air, Air Canada, British Airways, Jet, JAL, Vietnam Airlines, Turkish Airlines, KLM, . Alaska Airlines, United Airlines Locations: Australia, North Asia, Asia, Zealand, Auckland, AirlineRatings.com’s, Virgin Australia, Swiss, TAP Portugal

☆ Air New Zealand to weigh passengers before they board the airplane
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

That’s right: New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority is requiring that its national airline weigh passengers departing on international flights from Auckland International Airport through July 2, 2023. The program, which Air New Zealand calls a passenger weight survey, is a way to gather data on the weight load and distribution for planes, the airline said. This isn’t the first time that Air NZ has asked passengers to step on the scales before boarding their flights. Domestic passengers took part in a survey in 2021, but the one for international travelers was delayed due to the pandemic. The 17-hour flagship route was launched last fall as a lynchpin of Air NZ’s post-pandemic strategy.

☆ Hawaiian Airlines just launched its new route to a destination previously hard to reach for American tourists
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Hawaiian Airlines launched its new nonstop route between Honolulu and the Cook Islands on Saturday. American tourists previously could stop in only New Zealand or Tahiti to get to the island. Hawaiian's new route is the only link between the Cook Islands and the US, allowing travelers to more easily reach the isolated nation. In August, the nation's home airline, Air Rarotonga, launched direct flights between Papeete in Tahiti and Rarotonga, reported local publication Enjoy Cook Islands. The service comes after Air Tahiti ended its route between the two nations in 2020 after 13 years.

☆ No Singapore Airlines group A320neos with Pratt engines grounded - exec
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SINGAPORE, May 17 (Reuters) - None of the Airbus (AIR.PA) A320neo planes in the Singapore Airlines (SIAL.SI) group with Pratt & Whitney engines are currently grounded over a lack of spares, Leslie Thng, CEO of Scoot, the airline's low-cost subsidiary, said on Wednesday. The engines have been under scrutiny since Go Airlines (India) Ltd filed for bankruptcy protection this month, blaming "faulty" Pratt engines for the grounding of about half its 54 Airbus A320neos. Scoot has 15 A320neo family planes in its fleet, while premium brand Singapore Airlines instead operates the rival Boeing Co (BA.N) 737 family. India's IndiGo (INGL.NS), Germany's Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) and Air New Zealand (AIR.NZ) have said some of their aircraft have been grounded over issues with Pratt GTF engines at a time when spares are in short supply. Raytheon CEO Greg Hayes said in February that the GTF engines' reliability has not been up to expectations and that the company was working to fix problems.

☆ Skynest: Air New Zealand reveals price of new economy class sleep pods
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

But that will change on some Air New Zealand flights when the airline launches Skynest, a beds-on-board concept for economy-class passengers, in September 2024. The airline first announced the Skynest concept, in which six sleep pods in a bunk bed configuration are available on select planes, last year. Lighting in the Skynest pods was designed to make passengers sleep better. Meanwhile, Air New Zealand was ranked the second-best airline in the world in 2022. It became Air New Zealand in 1965.

☆ Air New Zealand's planned in-flight sleeping pods could cost nearly $100 an hour
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Air New Zealand's previously announced in-flight sleeping pods will likely cost between 400 and 600 New Zealand dollars ($250-$380) for a four-hour period, or up to approximately $100 an hour, according to a new press release from the airline. Travelers flying from Auckland to Chicago and New York will be able to sleep in the sky from September 2024, the carrier said, having first unveiled the plans for the new sleeping quarters in 2022. The Skynest sleeping pods will come in six-bed configurations and customers will be in fairly close quarters, with a privacy curtain separating people in neighboring bunks.

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☆ 7 airlines around the world offer lie-flat beds in economy — see what makes this seating arrangement so rare and unique
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

The concept is simple — imagine three coach seats that have legrests that flip up 90° to create one large space. And, it will only be reserved for those who book it, meaning no one will share with a stranger. The legrests of Air New Zealand's Skycouch flipped up. Taylor Rains/Insider

☆ I've flown in 4 different business class seats in the past year and each had something that set it apart. Here's how Singapore Airlines, ANA, Air New Zealand, and La Compagnie compare.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

After seeing the future product in person, I'm looking forward to Air New Zealand's new business class. The author flying Air New Zealand in business class in September 2022 on the inaugural nonstop flight from New York to Auckland. Taylor Rains/InsiderDisclaimer: Insider paid a media rate for the Boeing 787 business class flight from New York to Auckland in September.

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