As airlines worldwide struggle to survive amid the current COVID-19 medical emergency Air New Zealand is looking at mystery flights to generate bookings. The beauty of these mystery flights is that unlike flights to nowhere, people taking them will not just be aiding the airline but helping New Zealand’s tourist industry.
With all the restrictions and ever-changing lockdown’s traveling right now, throws up a load of questions. Air New Zealand is embracing the big question mark by offering vacationers holiday packages to mystery destinations. When booking the vacations with Air New Zealand, passengers agree to not finding out where they will be going until two days before departure time.
Air New Zealand is offering 20 mystery destinations
The flat-fee vacation packages offer three tiers of service: Great, Deluxe, and Luxury, with prices starting at NZ$642 ($422). Because New Zealanders cannot travel outside the country except for a few places in Australia, the packages are focused on the 20 Air New Zealand domestic destinations. Of the 20 destinations on offer, passengers can select one town or city that they do not wish to visit.
Air New Zealand partners Accor Hotels and Avis car hire will provide all accommodation and car hire included in the packages.
New Zealand has done a good job with COVID-19
Unlike many other parts of the world, New Zealand has successfully limited the spread of the coronavirus. One of the ways they achieved this was by imposing strict travel regulations for people entering the country. According to American news broadcaster CNN, New Zealand has had 1,531 cases of confirmed coronavirus cases and 25 deaths resulting from people becoming infected.
While it is still difficult for New Zealanders to travel abroad, domestic travel has no limitations. Currently, Air New Zealand offers domestic flights to the following destinations.
North Island destinations:
- Auckland
- Gisborne
- Hamilton
- Kerikeri, Bay of Islands
- Napier, Hawke’s Bay
- New Plymouth
- Palmerston North
- Rotorua
- Taupo
- Tauranga
- Whangarei
South Island destinations:
- Blenheim, Marlborough
- Christchurch
- Dunedin
- Hokitika, West Coast
- Invercargill
- Nelson
- Queenstown
- Timaru
According to Planespotters.net, Air New Zealand’s fleet is made up of the following aircraft:
- 27-ATR 72s
- 22-Airbus A320-200s
- 4-Airbus A320neos
- 7-Airbus A321neos
- 8-Boeing 777-200s
- 7-Boeing 777-300s
- 14-Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners
- 23-De Havilland Canada DHC-8-300s
The tourism industry asks for government help
Following on from New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s recent re-election victory with a decisive majority, the tourism sector is asking the government for help. As the southern hemisphere edges closer to summer, New Zealand was used to welcoming thousands of tourists from around the world. This year because of COVID-19, those foreign tourists and their money will be missing from the economy.
One of the proposals the Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) has suggested is that the New Zealand government gives every citizen a debit card with NZ$200 that they can spend on hotels and tourism-related attractions.
While New Zealanders may not travel abroad, they have a beautiful country blessed with majestic alpine peaks and sweeping coastlines to get out and enjoy.
Well done, Air New Zealand; this is an excellent promotion that may well have other airlines emulating you!
What do you think of the mystery package idea? Please tell us what you think in the comments.
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