Air New Zealand ends seasonal flights from Incheon amid engine challenges

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Air New Zealand ends seasonal flights from Incheon amid engine challenges

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Larry De Shon Independent Non-Executive Director (Appointed 20 April 2020) | Air New Zealand

By Sky Industry News

Feb 5, 2025

Air New Zealand has announced that its seasonal service from Incheon (ICN) to Auckland (AKL) will end on March 29, 2025. This decision marks the conclusion of the route's seasonal operation.

Jeremy O'Brien, Air New Zealand's Chief Commercial Officer, acknowledged the potential disappointment this may cause. "We understand this will be disappointing for some customers, and we sincerely apologise for the impact," he stated. The decision is attributed to ongoing challenges with engine availability, prompting a review of their network to maintain an effective schedule.

Customers affected by this change will be contacted by Air New Zealand with options for rebooking on alternative services. These alternatives include stopovers and connections through partner carriers. Customers can also opt to place their fare into credit or receive a full refund.

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Although non-stop flights to Seoul will cease after March 29, 2025, passengers can still reach South Korea via stopovers in other Asian destinations like Singapore, Taipei, or Hong Kong before connecting to Seoul with partner airlines.

O'Brien emphasized their commitment to ensuring seamless travel experiences: "We remain committed to providing seamless travel experiences for our customers and will work closely with our partners to ensure connectivity to Seoul remains accessible." He expressed gratitude for customer patience during these changes and fleet constraint challenges.

He further noted that demand and flying schedules are under constant review: "We are always reviewing demand and assessing our flying schedule. As aircraft and engines become available, we will review our network and make decisions based on customer demand."