Air New Zealand will open a new route from Beijing to Auckland on July 18. This is the second nonstop route between China and New Zealand following the opening of a route from Shanghai.

The new service will offer two weekly flights. Flight NZ086 will leave from Beijing every Thursday and Saturday and the return flight NZ087 will leave from Auckland every Wednesday and Friday. The direct flight time is about thirteen hours, a saving of three hours compared to a flight with transfers.

New Zealand, with its beautiful natural scenery and unique culture features, is becoming one of the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists. By the end of 2012, the number of Chinese tourists to New Zealand is expected to reach 226,000, a twofold increase on present volumes.

In 2006, the company opened a nonstop route between Auckland and Shanghai.