VANCOUVER — Air New Zealand plans to grow its Vancouver-Auckland operation by nearly 20% from January to July 2018.

During the first half of the January peak period, the airline will increase services from seven to eight flights per week.

Regional General Manager Americas Nick Judd says this extra capacity is a direct result of the increased demand for travel in the South Pacific region and the importance of Vancouver in the Air New Zealand network.

“This year marks 10 years since we launched our Canadian service and increasing the frequency of our non-stop service between Vancouver and Auckland means our customers will have more travel options, which is great for Canadians wanting to discover all that New Zealand and Australia have to offer,” said Judd.

The route will grow nearly 20% (an extra 15,600 seats) by increasing daily services beyond peak months of December and January into the shoulder season of February, and increasing to five services a week in March and April (up from four) and four weekly services during May – mid-June (up from three).

Air New Zealand Chief Revenue Officer Cam Wallace says the airline is delighted to be able to offer its customers more scheduled flights to and from Vancouver.

“We recognize how popular Canada is as a winter destination for Kiwis. We also see the value in increasing services to New Zealand for Canadian tourists, allowing them to escape the winter and enjoy a chance to experience our beautiful summer and the tranquility of New Zealand through the shoulder season.”