Continental Airlines will start flying between Auckland and Houston from November next year. This will considerably improve the access to the North American tourism market from the Auckland International Airport.

Continental Airlines will utilize the new Boeing 787-8 for these flights and will be flying daily between these two destinations in the peak summer season. The frequency will reduce to five times a week during the winter season. The route has generally proved for be difficult for most of the US carriers.

Continental earlier flew to New Zealand around 15 years ago while United Airlines stopped services in the year 2003.

The news was welcomed by Glen Wedlock, Auckland Airport Head of Business Development who stressed that the 228-seat 787 is the ideal plane for the route. He expects that around 100,000 passengers would use the service in its first year. It will generate revenue of $3 million every year from landing fees and retail spending.

In the last one year around 155,000 American tourists passed through Auckland Airport. The airport spent close to a year drafting a business plan with Tourism New Zealand to attract Continental Airlines for this service.

Tourism New Zealand is aiming to increase visitors from the United States to around 330,000 every year from the year 2014. The service will not be competing with Air New Zealand and Qantas which is a major advantage.