Air New Zealand, biggest New Zealand airways, announced that it will launch direct flights from Auckland to Shanghai on Nov. 6.

 

This will be the first direct air route linking China and New Zealand, China Business News reported, quoting the airways' statement.

 

Air New Zealand will fly three times a week to Shanghai on Monday, Thursday and Saturday, and the price of round-ticket will be around 7,300 yuan (913 U.S. dollars), some 700 yuan cheaper than the stop-over round-ticket.

 

The airways estimated the occupancy rate on maiden flight will be at 80 percent, and half of the passengers will be tourists.

 

Over the past 12 months, more than 100,000 Chinese made trips to New Zealand and China has become a potential tourist market for Sydney.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 28, 2006)