Grant Bradley looks at what’s new in aviation and how it will benefit fliers.
1. The flurry of new flights this month
This year has ended as Jetstar begins regional flights within six months of announcing them, Air New Zealand taking the big leap into South America, flying to Buenos Aires three times a week (with hopes of increasing frequency) Philippine Airlines flying to Auckland via Cairns four times a week, again, with ambitions to expand the service, and late last week mainland Chinese heavyweight Air China beginning services from Beijing. Air New Zealand flies to a new destination, Houston, next Tuesday and the five-times-a-week service gives access to the US south. There are also new flights to Rarotonga from Jetstar and Virgin Australia. Airlines don't commit hundreds of millions of capital and immense effort lightly - global travel is hitting new records and they want their share.
2. New destinations next year
Already Air New Zealand has announced a new service to Vietnam starting next winter and has another Pacific Rim leisure destination to reveal soon. Its alliance partner, United Airlines, is heading back to New Zealand after a 13-year absence, starting flights next winter from San Francisco to Auckland. Around the same time, the world's biggest carrier, American Airlines, is making big moves in a deal with Qantas that will break Air New Zealand's stranglehold on non-stop flying across the Pacific.
3. Low fares will continue
Relative to wages, flying's never been cheaper and this is set to continue. The prospect of an announcement by American Airlines prompted one-off sub-$500 return fares to the US from Air New Zealand. Unlike previous years when price wars forced some airlines off routes and even out of business, this phase of capacity growth promises to be more sustainable, thanks to low fuel prices, better planes and, for the most, sensible alliances to share the heavy lifting. Fuel makes up around 40 per cent of long-haul costs and as oil prices show no sign of returning to the US$100 ($150) per barrel high of 18 months ago, airlines can plan with more confidence than usual. During the past century the airline industry has seldom made a profit over a year, but in the past 12 months most are in the black, and some are making super-profits. Competition is king for the traveller. The family of six I met who were able to travel on the first Jetstar flight from Napier to Auckland for $300 return to give the kids a pre-Christmas treat at Rainbow's End will agree with that.
4. New planes are coming
The Boeing 787 is becoming ubiquitous. Four airlines regularly use them through New Zealand and both new US carriers will use the Dreamliner, ideally suited to long thin routes, on their flights here. Korean Airlines is bringing in the mother of all 747s, the 747-8, here over summer but Cathay Pacific has even bigger plans to use the world's newest wide-body plane, the A350 XWB, on the Auckland-Hong Kong route next year. Like the Dreamliner, it is made largely of the most modern lightweight material, has the latest fuel-efficient technology and increased cabin comfort but, unlike its Boeing rival, its development and introduction fell into the "no news is good news" category and this plane has already slotted into a number of airline fleets around the world.
5. New products in the air
Airlines are not about to get less ruthless about packing in Economy travellers but at the front end, where carriers make their serious money, it's getting more luxurious. Hawaiian Airlines is remodelling its Premium cabin and the other US carriers coming here, American and United, have undergone a transformation that means that jaded feel has been left behind. Etihad is set to work harder in the New Zealand market next year, meaning anyone with cash to spare can expect to be tempted by the airline's "Residences" aboard A380s out of Australia. The three-room apartments (complete with butler) have been selling for close to $27,000 for a one-way flight from Abu Dhabi to London. Emirates is also upgrading its First Class cabins.
6. The digital dividend
Even slightly savvy travellers can book and travel using mobile technology, and apps like TripIt, available through Auckland Airport's own app, are making the whole journey easier. Air New Zealand has been a leader in technology before and an example of this continued commitment are the newly introduced wristbands that track kids travelling alone. In a case of watch this space, the airline is ambitious about new, far-reaching developments to seriously challenge thinking about technology, recently appointing a chief digital officer.
7. The show rolls on
For variety, Air New Zealand hit the mark just right in its safety videos; one featured one of the world's best surfers, Mick Fanning, another the greatest ever All Black Richie McCaw and now there's the prospect of one of the biggest names in music, Taylor Swift, rocking the yellow lifejacket. The selection of McCaw to promote its new Buenos Aires flight was a winner. But the airline over-reached, taking a poke at Jetstar over punctuality the day the Australian rival dropped into its regional backyard, resulting in a tussle that is set to be played out over the next year. The national carrier will face pressure in the regions, but it's the Qantas group's ability to get passengers from Napier to Nashville or Dunedin to Disneyland that is getting under its skin. The transtasman spat will make for spectator sport.