Hawaiian Airlines will start flying to Auckland three times per week from next March, the only US airline flying to New Zealand.
The airline says it will give New Zealand travellers links to 11 cities in mainland USA as well as to other Hawaiian Islands.
It says the service will also boost US tourists to New Zealand, particularly after the release of The Hobbit movie.
Tourism New Zealand says adding 40,000 seats per year between Auckland and Hawaii offers big opportunities for New Zealand tourism.
Chief executive Kevin Bowler says Tourism NZ will increase its marketing in the United States.
