Air New Zealand has hinted an Auckland-New York direct route is on the horizon, once it acquires new airplanes. Chief executive Christopher Luxon told Forbes the airline is in the top five in the world in terms of the distance it flies. Currently, the two longest flights in the world both serve Auckland - direct flights to Dubai and Doha. Luxon told Forbes he envisioned flying to New York (about 14,815km) and Chicago once the airline secures new airplanes. Luxon said the United States and New Zealand flight routes were primarily for ''premium leisure travellers''.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 11, 2017 03:33 UTC