Air New Zealand have just announced the commencement of year round Auckland to Chicago services 3 times per week with 789s from 30 November, 2018.
The Routes Online post is:
Quote:
Air New Zealand on Wednesday (28MAR18) morning local time announced new service launch to the US, which sees the Star Alliance member offering Auckland – Chicago O’Hare route. Scheduled to be operated by 275-seater Boeing 787-9 aircraft, this route will commence on 30NOV18, 3 times a week on year-round basis. The following schedule is effective 30NOV18 – 09MAR19.
Reservation for this new route gradually opened after 0840NZT 28MAR18.
NZ026 AKL2010 – 1615ORD 789 357
NZ027 ORD1910 – 0630+2AKL 789 357
Block time is around 15 hours for NZ026, nearly 16.5 hours for NZ027.
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It will be interesting to see if QANTAS responds with flights from Brisbane to Chicago with some spare 789 capacity from the fourth Brisbane based aircraft. The US seems to have left the spotlight somewhat with the commencement of non stop flights from Perth to London. With the Air NZ block times, specifically the return flight, would the 789 have the range to operate from Brisbane to Chicago?