Air New Zealand has extended the cancelation on its Auckland to Chicago route, and I can’t help but wonder if this route will actually make a comeback.
Why Air New Zealand has suspended Auckland to Chicago flights
In late 2018, we saw Air New Zealand launch a route between Auckland (AKL) and Chicago (ORD), which was the carrier’s second longest route, at 8,184 miles. The route was suspended during the pandemic, and returned in late 2022. In recent weeks, the route has been suspended again:
- Air New Zealand first cut the route for the IATA northern summer travel season, from March 31 until October 27, 2024
- Now Air New Zealand has announced that it’s suspending this route even longer, and it will resume in the second half of 2025
What’s the reason for this suspension? Well, it comes down to a lack of Boeing 787 Dreamliners that can fly. Not only have Air New Zealand’s upcoming Boeing 787 deliveries been delayed considerably, but the airline is also having challenges with availability of the engines needed for existing aircraft, meaning the whole fleet can’t even stay in service. The 787 delivery challenges have also delayed Air New Zealand’s new business class.
Here’s how Scott Carr, Air New Zealand’s General Manager of Long Haul, describes this update:
“Unfortunately, ongoing challenges with the availability of Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engines on our 787-9 aircraft means we haven’t been able to return to our Chicago route in October as expected. We anticipate returning to Chicago when we receive our new 787 aircraft from Boeing, currently expected in the second half of 2025.”
“Over the next few days, our teams will be in touch directly with customers who have bookings on our Chicago route from October to share their options, so they do not need to contact us proactively. Those who booked via a travel agent should contact their agent to confirm changes to their itinerary.”
“While we know this news of a further pause will be disappointing for customers with travel plans to Chicago, there are still plenty of options to travel to the city with a stopover in another US port.”
Will Air New Zealand return to Chicago?
Air New Zealand has a legitimate reason to pause this route, as the carrier’s fleet planning hasn’t exactly worked out as planned, due to the current Dreamliner challenges.
However, am I the only one who can’t help but wonder if this route will actually make a comeback, even when these problems are resolved? I’m not doubting Air New Zealand’s intentions here, but I just wonder if market conditions have changed to the point that this service may no longer be the best use of resources.
Air New Zealand used to dominate the market between New Zealand and the United States, and provided a vast majority of the capacity. New Zealand has become way more competitive across the Pacific in recent years, with American, Delta, and United, all adding considerable service to the country.
While there’s some demand between Auckland and Chicago, the route is largely designed around connectivity. However, I’m not sure it captures all that much traffic that can’t be routed through Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, or New York. Furthermore, for travelers originating in the US, many people prefer to fly with US carriers, due to the loyalty benefits associated with it.
I could be totally wrong, but personally I wouldn’t be surprised if we see this service suspended for even longer, and that Air New Zealand ultimately decides it’s better off expanding capacity to Asia or other markets.
Bottom line
Air New Zealand is suspending its Auckland to Chicago route all the way through the second half of 2025. This is due to the delay of Boeing 787s, plus issues with the engines on these jets. This is the second such suspension that we’ve seen to the route. Only time will tell if this route actually returns, though I’m not holding my breath…
What do you make of Air New Zealand’s extended Chicago service cuts?
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