Air New Zealand’s NZ88 took off from Auckland Airport Terminal 1, Gate 3 at 1.28am (New Zealand time) instead of the scheduled timing of 12.45am. It is scheduled to land in Changi International Airport Terminal 3 at 6.17am this morning. Air New Zealand flew its Boeing 777-219ER (Registration number ZK-OKA) for this return flight and will continue to use the B777-200ER aircraft.
Singapore is 8,451 km away from Auckland and the total flight time takes 10 hours and 30 minutes. The return flight from Singapore NZ281 departs at 8.50am and arrives in Auckland at 11.45pm. The total flight time takes 9 hours 55 minutes.
This is the first return service between New Zealand and Singapore as part of the alliance between Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines announced last year. From today, the Star Alliance carriers will each operate one daily return flight between Auckland and Singapore in addition to Singapore Airline’s daily return flights between Christchurch and Singapore.
The new alliance between Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines offers three non-stop daily flights to New Zealand, seven days a week. This connects guests to more than 20 domestic destinations within New Zealand.
Air New Zealand operates a three-class cabin featuring Economy, Premium Economy and Business Premier on its B777-200ER. Premium Economy cabin offers more leg room and increase seat pitch (41″), 80% more seat recline (9″) than in Economy, premium dining, premium check in, two checked in baggage of 23kg each, and two cabin bags of 7kg each. The seats have a width of 19.3″ with a 5″ wide armrest.
There are also 18 rows in the Economy class cabin that offers the Skycouch seats allowing passengers to convert a row of three seats into a flat surface for resting, relaxation and play. This is one of the differentiating factor for flying on Air New Zealand.
However, this Premium Economy cabin does not have the spacious Spaceseat found on the B777-300 aircraft.
Singapore Airlines will operate the Airbus A380 on the Auckland – Singapore route during the Northern Winter operating season and the B777-300ERs as well as the refurbished B777-200ERs on the Singapore – Christchurch route. Singapore Airlines does not have a Premium Economy cabin at the moment.
Air New Zealand customers can now enjoy codeshare connectivity to more than 50 additional destinations on the Singapore Airlines and SilkAir networks. Singapore Airlines is codesharing on a further 40 routes in the Air New Zealand network.
Business Class customers and Star Alliance Gold members can make use of the Air New Zealand International Lounge on the second floor of the International terminal in Auckland. The lounge has a seating capacity of 260. Shower facilities, hot beverage and alcohol, light refreshments, mobile phone charging station, business desk, fax, photocopier and PC printer and other facilities are available. The lounge opens at 4.30am and closes after the last Air New Zealand Flight. Below is the map of the location of the lounge.
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