TORONTO — Air New Zealand has debuted its first global brand campaign with a first-phase launch here in Canada and the U.S. that includes a travel agent contest offering the chance to win a trip for two to New Zealand.
To celebrate the launch of Air New Zealand’s newest campaign, A Better Way to Fly, and its newest frequent flier, they are giving travel agents a chance to win 2 tickets to New Zealand. Go to ca.airnztravelagent.com/better-way-fly-sweepstakes to find out more. Entries must be received by Sept. 22, 2017 to qualify for the prize draw.
Year-to-date visitor numbers show 66,000 Canadian travellers arrived in New Zealand, a 19% increase year on year. Air New Zealand says it sees huge potential to further tap into this demand given the “notable increase” in the number of Canadian travellers visiting New Zealand each year.
The new global brand campaign comes as Air New Zealand appoints a new Regional Manager Americas, Liz Fraser. “Earlier this month Air New Zealand announced a capacity increase for its Vancouver-Auckland and Honolulu-Auckland routes, illustrating the demand for travel,” said Fraser. “This year Air New Zealand, along with its JV partner United Airlines will operate over 40% more capacity into mainland USA than it operated five years ago. That’s an additional 300,000 seats in 2017 so it’s certainly an exciting time to join the region.”
The airline says recent consumer research shows that despite the desire to visit New Zealand, one of the greatest barriers is the perception of distance, with some would-be visitors thinking that New Zealand is 20 or more hours away.
The new campaign, dubbed ‘A Better Way to Fly’, aims to bust those myths and reinforce what Air New Zealand says is its key differentiator: an innovative inflight offering enabling travellers to sit back, relax and enjoy the direct service to New Zealand.
The new campaign features ‘Pete’, a CGI character inspired by New Zealand’s national bird the kiwi and voiced by New Zealand actor and Jurassic Park star Sam Neill. Pete takes viewers on his in-flight journey to show a little bit of New Zealand in the sky.
Pete enjoying Air New Zealand’s famous Skycouch
Air New Zealand is known for its premium New Zealand wines served onboard, chef-curated menus (in Business Premier and Premium Economy, dishes are created by chefs Peter Gordon from London’s The Providores and Tapa Room The Sugar Club in Auckland, New Zealand, and Michael Meredith from Auckland’s Meredith’s).
The airline’s Business Premier cabins feature Air New Zealand’s signature chalk colored luxurious leather lie-flat bed, complete with memory foam mattress, duvet and two full size pillows.
Reacting to changing customer needs, in 2005 Air New Zealand was one of the first airlines to introduce the premium economy class.
Air New Zealand also revolutionized the Economy cabin by introducing more space and flexible options for passengers in the Economy class – the first real improvement for this class by any airline in more than 20 years, according to the airline.
The Skycouch, originally dubbed the ‘cuddle couch’, is a row of three economy seats, that together create a flexible space to stretch out and relax, or can be used as a place for the kids to use as a play area.
Other Air New Zealand innovations include its world famous safety videos to the use of advanced technologies including the Airband which allows parents to track the progress of children travelling unaccompanied, and Biometric Bag Drop.
Australia-bound passengers can transit in Auckland to eight Australian destinations without having to change terminals. Their bags go straight through to their destination too.
“With the help of Pete the kiwi, this new global brand campaign aims to convince North American travelers that Air New Zealand is A Better Way to Fly,” says Air New Zealand General Manager of Global Brand and Content Marketing Jodi Williams. “We hope travellers interested in visiting New Zealand or Australia will choose us once they learn about the award-winning product and service we offer.”
Air New Zealand flies nonstop to Auckland from Vancouver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and Houston. Services are operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft (Honolulu), Boeing 777-300ER aircraft (Los Angeles & San Francisco) and 777-200ER (Vancouver & Houston), all featuring the Economy Skycouch and lie-flat Business Premier beds.
