AIRLINES offering connections to the South Pacific from the UK are improving networks before an expected millennium rush for travel to the region.
The carriers are also publicising a range of fare deals to make visits to the South Pacific easier. These include Air New Zealand’s £710 return fare to the South Pacific from Heathrow.
ANZ has up to three flights a week to Fiji and Tahiti to choose from, with fewer frequencies to the Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga. Flights from London to the South Pacific are from Heathrow via Los Angeles.
The airline also operates connections to the same destinations, generally more frequently, from Auckland. From June 26, ANZ partner Ansett Australia begins a weekly service from Brisbane to Fiji, following the start of twice-weekly Sydney flights to the island last November.
UK passengers travelling on the Singapore Airlines/ANZ codeshare services through Asia will feel the benefits of Ansett’s improved schedules to the South Pacific destinations.
ANZ UK and Ireland manager Roger Poulton said: “The millennium focus on the South Pacific has already started to lift consumer awareness enormously. We want to turnthat awareness into solid growth during the period of the festivities.
“We have been investing considerable marketing in millennium promotions for the past year and are seeing substantial returns in terms of revenue and long-term tourism interest.”
Part of the promotion of ANZ’s services is its current ‘Take a Mate’ deal on business-class flights from Heathrow to Nadi in Fiji. The two-for-one offer ends on June 30.
Poulton said forward bookings to September for the South Pacific were very healthy.
Rival Qantas also offers a range of connections via Australia to the South Pacific. Flights are shared with British Airways under their codeshare alliance.
The Australian carrier uses the services of 10 airlines to serve the region, including Air Pacific and Royal Tongan.
From the UK, passengers can combine the Discover Australia fare – £720 from Heathrow to Sydney or Melbourne – with the South Pacific Pass to reach the islands.
The pass offers a number of options to Tonga and Western Samoa. Once there, Qantas’ Boomerang Pass, at £95 per sector, can be used for intra-island flights.