Air New Zealand to Launch Cargo Flights Between Melbourne and Los Angeles

Air New Zealand will soon launch cargo flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles after the airline was awarded the route as part of the Australian Government's International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) programme.

The airline will operate the service with one flight per week until 31 October 2021, with the first flight bound for Melbourne on 3 July.

The service will be in addition to the Brisbane – Los Angeles route the airline has been operating since August 2020 under the same scheme.

"This service will help Australian exporters get high-value, time-sensitive perishable exports to global markets and assist with importing nationally important goods to Australia," said Air New Zealand General Manager Cargo Anna Palairet. "Over the next four months, the route will open the potential for nearly 1000 tonnes to be moved between Melbourne and Los Angeles. We know there is some big cargo demand on this route as it gives Australian exporters and importers another option to move products to and from the US. In fact, the first flight is already pre-sold."

In May, the airline was also awarded more flying under the New Zealand Government's Maintaining International Air Connectivity (MIAC) scheme.

"This scheme has been extended through to October, and we will operate around 30 flights per week to 13 destinations including Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Shanghai, as well as maintaining air connectivity with key ports within the Pacific Islands," Anna said. "Our cargo team has worked hard to keep products moving for the past 15 months which has also allowed us to bring Kiwis home while international travel is constrained by border closures."

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