Air NZ gets on board with Tourism NZ

CHRISTCHURCH - Air New Zealand today climbed on board Tourism New Zealand's bid to ensure the quality of the country's tourism industry operators.

Air NZ spokesman Steve Bayliss told the Trenz (Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand) tourism conference in Christchurch today that the national carrier was now Qualmark certified.

Earlier, Tourism NZ chief executive George Hickton said tourism operators would need independent quality certification from 2007 to be included in the government body's move to promote tourism.

The only existing certification which Tourism NZ currently accepted was its Qualmark joint venture with the Automobile Association .

Tourism NZ is seeking to maintain and extend New Zealand's reputation as a high end tourist destination amid increasing international competition.

Meanwhile, Mr Bayliss also said Air NZ would introduce a Boeing 747-400 aircraft equipped with its new "Business Premier" lie-flat seats and "Pacific Premium Economy" seats on its San Francisco route on August 7.

The airline would start a six-day-a-week service to San Francisco using its new Boeing 777-200 aircraft in November.

While flights to Europe still go through Los Angeles, the airline is hoping to bring more North American tourists to New Zealand through the smaller but less-congested airport at San Francisco.

Flights to San Francisco now involve the larger Boeing 747-400.

Air NZ said moving to six flights a week would increase the number of seats on the route by 62 per cent.

- NZPA