Cathay Pacific Airbus A350WXB flies to Auckland now.
Speculation is growing that Cathay Pacific will announce a seasonal service between Hong Kong and Christchurch.
The airline has a joint venture with Air New Zealand and flies from its Hong Kong base to Auckland but has been under pressure to extend its operations to the southern city from
airports and tourism groups.
CAPA Centre for Aviation says the airlines backed away from Hong Kong to Christchurch flights following the approval of the alliance that dates back to 2012.
But Air New Zealand's joint venture with Cathay rival Singapore Airlines had resulted in the Singaporean carrier growing its presence in Christchurch.
''Cathay has been more frugal, and the New Zealand government determined that although the joint venture reduced competition, there was no prospective third competitor, so no harm done. But now that Hong Kong Airlines has entered Auckland, and then expanded, the Cathay-Air New Zealand joint venture faces disbanding,'' CAPA says.
