Thinking big
Continental will operate the B787 from Houston to Auckland from 2012. Peta Tomlinson fi nds out how the (small) New Zealand airport landed this (big) landmark service.
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o matter one’s size, it pays to think big. Auckland Airport – major hub for New Zealand, a charming yet diminutive country with a total population of only 4.3 million people – has proven that with a masterstroke that has left other bigger players scratching their heads. “It’s most defi nitely a coup – it is helping to put us on the map,” says Matthew Findlay, Auckland Airport’s route development manager. “We know that some airline executives have asked: how does that happen? For others, it made them sit up and wonder: what are we missing?”
Findlay is referring to the tie-up with Continental Airlines (now merged with United Airlines) that will see Auckland
land the fi rst B787-800 Dreamliner service in the southern hemisphere. The newest addition to the Boeing fl eet has long-range capability, and its lighter weight improves fuel effi ciency and allows for increased cargo capacity. Passengers are likely to be more impressed by the aircraft’s lie-fl at seats, huge windows, and an onboard humidity control system that is designed to mimimise jetlag.
The planned Continental Airlines route will connect Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States, with Auckland.
Finding a niche
Conceding that this route announcement was “something out of the box”, Findlay
notes that this is precisely the strategy that Auckland Airport’s management has been pushing: “Think outside the box, and carve out your own airline niche to maximise your profi ts and returns for your airline shareholders.” The alternative? “Why continue to compete in an already crowded market?” Findlay responds. Yet he rejects any David–Goliath inference. “Size isn’t everything. How can that work? It’s not just about the size of the two city pairs – it’s about the networks at either end that can provide all the necessary feed with partners. In addition, there is a large market of Americans who want to get here – Tourism New Zealand calls them the ‘Active Considerers’ – people who know
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