Air New Zealand Eyes London Return with Gatwick Slots for 2025

Air New Zealand has secured 236 slots at London Gatwick for the 2025 northern summer, according to Airport Coordination Limited (ACL), signaling the airline’s potential return to the UK after ceasing operations in 2019. While no decisions have been made, a spokesperson confirmed that London remains under consideration during the airline’s ongoing network review.

“London is a destination New Zealand has a special connection to, and we continue to explore options,” the spokesperson told ch-aviation.

Air New Zealand also applied for 420 slots at London Heathrow but was unsuccessful, as ACL received 28,909 slot requests, granting just 0.6% of them.

The airline discontinued its London service in 2020, selling its Heathrow slot to United Airlines. Previously, the route operated via Los Angeles and was profitable but faced challenges due to stiff competition and lower passenger preference for the Boeing 777, which replaced the B747 on the route.

As Air New Zealand considers its UK options, it faces operational challenges with four of its 14 Boeing 787-9s grounded due to Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine issues. This has prompted schedule adjustments across its network to minimize disruption.

Air New Zealand has begun refurbishing its B787-9 fleet, with the first aircraft undergoing cabin updates in Singapore. The refurbished planes are expected to enter service in early 2025.

A potential restart of London flights would require a refueling stop, as neither the B787-9 nor the B777-300ER can operate the Auckland-London route nonstop.

Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=Air+New+Zealand

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com