Air NZ charter flight to Las Vegas takes off carrying Warriors fans

Last night, an Air New Zealand charter flight took off from Auckland heading to Las Vegas carrying Warriors fans. The special flight for NRL fans sold out in just 17 minutes after tickets were put up for sale.

An Air New Zealand 777-300ER landing in Auckland | Photo: Noah Stohr-Waldren

The flight represents one of the airlines most ambitious charter flights and the first major international charter since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Duane Perrott, Air New Zealand Warriors' relationship manager said “It’s not a port we fly to at all.”

The last time Air New Zealand flew to Vegas was back in 2012 when the airline suspended regular services to the American city. Because the airline doesn’t fly to Vegas regularly, it would have been very difficult to arrange the charter as “any contacts that [Air New Zealand] had, have now gone, so you’ve got to start up from scratch,” explained Perrott. The airline also worked with the Warriors to take fans to Vegas on two 747s the last time they were in the NRL Grand Final in 2011.

It’s a serious piece of work to organise — but worth it, considering the market response, with the packages, which started from $5000, selling out in minutes.

The flight to Las Vegas used a special flight number to the Warriors, NZ1995, a hint at the Warriors foundation year.

One of Air New Zealand’s leased 777-300ERs landing | Photo: Noah Stohr-Waldren

The national airline currently operates two flights per day between Auckland and Los Angles, using two 777-300ERs. For the day of the special flight, one of the flights did not operate and the aircraft instead flew to Las Vegas. After dropping off the NRL fans, the 777 repositioned down to Los Angles where it will re enter regular service.

This was done to minimise any impacts on any regular flights.