A new twice-weekly flight route connecting Auckland and Buenos Aires will take off later tonight, marking what the Government is calling a milestone for the tourism sector.
China Eastern Airlines launches its Auckland to Buenos Aires service tonight, adding to its existing daily Shanghai to Auckland flights and positioning the city as a transit hub between Asia and South America. Tonight's flight departs just before 9pm.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said he would be representing New Zealand on the inaugural flight, celebrating his successful advocacy on the issue.
"I think we’ve been living at the mercy of the Mercator projection; this most common map cuts this side of the globe in half. Thank you for realising it's a globe, and Auckland is halfway," he said in a statement.
"Before the pandemic in 2019, we had 45,000 South Americans visiting, but today we're still short 42% – around 19,000 visitors.
"This route will bring more Argentinians to Auckland and New Zealand.”
Tourism Minister Louise Upston said the new route would improve air connectivity and support travel, trade and tourism.
"We are very firmly focused on growing tourism beyond 2019 levels and China Eastern's Southern Link marks a new milestone for New Zealand as a tourism and trade gateway."
She said increased air connectivity was vital for economic growth, and it was exciting to see Auckland Airport continue to grow as a hub for international travellers.
Air New Zealand most recently flew Auckland to Buenos Aires in 2020, which was when the route was canned during the Covid-19 pandemic and never brought back.
Brown said: "Auckland sits at the crossroads of people and trade in the Asia Pacific, and it will now be the connector for two economic titans: China and the entire continent of South America."
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said the Government streamlined the experience for Chinese visitors earlier this year, who can now transit via New Zealand on a NZeTA without having to apply for a separate transit visa.
"Our immigration settings play a critical role in strengthening our country's economic future. We are focused on delivering smart and responsive immigration solutions to support that," she said.
Brown was travelling to Buenos Aires with his executive assistant, interpreters and an Auckland Airport representative for a series of meetings with local and federal government representatives, before returning on December 10.
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