Emirates has announced it will cut back flying daily from Auckland to Bali to four times a week from mid-January and Hawaiian Airlines will pull back slightly from five times a week flights to Honolulu during quieter months.
"These are frequency adjustments based on seasonal market demand. Overall demand for a Hawaii vacation remains strong, and we will continue to offer five times weekly non-stop flights during peak periods," said the airline's country director for New Zealand, Russell Williss.
Auckland Airport's general manager aeronautical commercial, Scott Tasker,
said capacity reductions were a sign of rational behaviour by airlines.
Demand shifts and higher fuel costs were influencing behaviour.
''Their business models have evolved over time - that's their ability and level of sophistication that they are able to put into schedule and network planning and managing their fleets,'' he said.
''On leisure routes you can be more dynamic and target demand on routes where there is a large amount of corporate or business traffic.''
Air New Zealand has said that over the coming year it expects domestic
capacity to increase by 3 per cent to 5 per cent and the Tasman and Pacific Islands network is targeted to grow between 7 to 9 per cent.
Extra capacity will be supported by our new A321 Neo's (new engine option) which have about 25 per cent more seats than the current A320s flying those routes.Direct services to Chicago - using Dreamliners not affected by engine problems - will begin at the end of November.
Tasker said the Chicago services provided entry to partner airline United's hub.
''From this region it will be the furthest into North America that anyone is flying - it will be great for inbound visitation and great for Australians wanting to get to that part of the world with a nice seamless transfer in Auckland along the way.''
Among long haul changes coming on October 28 are:
• American Airlines back with three class 787-9 daily to Los Angeles.
• United Airlines back with a 777-300ER to daily San Francisco (and the airline will continue flying next winter).
• China Southern flying double daily with new 787-9s, to Guangzhou.
• Hainan Airlines which flies to Shenzen.is moving up to a 787-9.
• Singapore Airlines (in partnership with Air NZ) is adding a third daily flight to Singapore and at the summer peak could have two A380s in Auckland a day.
• Air Tahiti Nui which flies three times a week to Papeete is moving up to a 787-9.
Tasker said the new fuel efficient planes provided some headroom to cope with higher fuel prices. They have remained elevated this year and there are signs they could increase further. They were about 45 per cent lower than spikes in 2011 and 2014 and fuel hedging provided further insulation.
''It's when the hedges roll off or it gets higher is when there have to be some hard calls,'' he said.
During the recent peak oil period most airlines had changed their business so they could better cope with high prices..
Helloworld executive general manager Simon McKearney said rising fuel prices were putting pressure on all airlines.
''I think the airlines in general are eyeing the storm clouds on the horizon — fuel prices. We expect price increases and with that a slowing of demand to some markets,'' said McKearney.
At its annual meeting last month, Air New Zealand warned higher than expected jet fuel prices could hurt profitability in 2019.
Jet fuel prices have recently been higher than $US85 per barrel ($NZ131) the company had assumed in its 2019 financial year earnings guidance.
Latest figures show jet fuel prices in this region are $US96.35 a barrel, up 32.8 per cent on a year ago.
