NEW LA FLIGHTS SET TO TAKE OFF
By Charles Pitt, Political Editor

Air New Zealand is expected to later this month announce the introduction of a weekly Rarotonga-Los Angeles direct flight utilising a 230-seat Boeing 767 aircraft.
There is the possibility of a second flight during the peak season, information from reliable industry sources leads the Cook Islands Times to speculate.
The second service will possibly use one of Air New Zealand’s new generation 313-seat Boeing 777s.
If this is confirmed, it would be welcome news to the local tourism industry.
It is predicted that the 30 per cent dip in Northern Hemisphere visitors will be quickly made up and even exceeded.
DETAILS
Details of the outcome of the recent discussions between the Cook Islands Airline Consultative Group, led by Tourism Minister Wilkie Rasmussen, and Air NZ are expected to be announced about 26 October.
They have centred around the future of Air NZ’s Rarotonga–Los Angeles flights if Air New Zealand switches to “codesharing” on Air Tahiti Nui flights Auckland-Tahiti-Los Angeles.
This is instead of flying Auckland-Rarotonga-Tahiti-Los Angeles itself as it does now.
Tourism Minister Rasmussen could not be contacted before going to print to verify details.

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