China's Tianjin Airlines is to start services between New Zealand's biggest city of Auckland and China from December, Auckland Airport announced Wednesday.
The airline would operate year-round between Tianjin, Chongqing and Auckland three times a week using an A330 aircraft, said airport general manager Norris Carter. "It is very exciting that Tianjin Airlines has chosen Auckland as their first Australasia destination," Carter said in a statement. "Regional China is a rapidly developing source market for New Zealand tourism and these new routes flying directly to Auckland provide another option for Chinese visitors to experience New Zealand."
Auckland Airport estimated the new service would add 83,000 seats to the China to Auckland route every year and inject about 102 million NZ dollars (74.29 million U.S. dollars) into the New Zealand tourism industry.
With a population of more than 15 million people, Tianjin is the largest coastal city in northern China, while Chongqing is a major economic center of the Yangtze basin with a population of more than 30 million. Tianjin Airlines, established in 2009, has a fleet of 89 aircraft and serves more than 100 destinations.
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