It's less than two weeks since Air New Zealand started flying direct between Auckland and New York, but some of the issues it's struck include having to offload bags, passengers and make plans for a possible pitstop in Fiji.
The airline says it's encountered winds much stronger than what it had researched and planned for over the past two years. As a result it's had to reduce passenger numbers on the return leg to Auckland.
With Air New Zealand due to be joined next year by Qantas on the Auckland to New York run, what's the long term viability of ultra-long haul flights like these?
To talk about this, and the plethora of problems plaguing the global aviation industry right now, Kathryn is joined by Geoffrey Thomas, editor in chief of Airlineratings.com and who has been writing about aviation issues for over 40 years.
Air New Zealand's inaugural flight NZ2 makes its descent above New York City. Photo: Supplied
