Air New Zealand has confirmed it will operate its next $29 Night Rider service between Palmerston North and Auckland.
From March 20 to April 16 every seat on an additional late night service will be priced at $29 one way or $39 for a seat and a bag. That period includes the Easter long weekend.
A 68-seat ATR turboprop aircraft will operate this service five days a week with flights scheduled to depart Auckland at 9.00pm Thursday to Monday with the return leg departing from Palmerston North at 10.30pm.
The service will go on sale next Monday, and will add an extra 2000 seats in and out of the Manawatū city.
Palmerston North acting mayor at the time of the announcement, Jim Jefferies, said last month the night time flights are likely to be 'extremely popular'.
"The additional flights that Night Rider will bring to Palmerston North are likely to be extremely popular with locals and visitors alike," said Jefferies.
Palmerston North Airport chief executive David Lanham said the airport were excited by Air New Zealand's announcement.
"We are excited by [the] announcement and hope locals and our neighbouring regions will take advantage of this new service and Fly Palmy. It will create more capacity and cheaper fares, on one of our most popular routes," said Lanham.
Air New Zealand announced last month it was reinstating its Night Rider services to different regional centres. They used to run only on main trunk jet routes.
It will start with Auckland-Nelson and Auckland-Christchurch flights from Friday, operating five days a week through until March 19.
Air New Zealand Group General Manager for New Zealand and Pacific Islands Louise Struthers said Night Rider proved a huge hit with customers in the past and this expanded version is expected to be very popular again.
"This time around we've decided to extend Night Rider further, with both domestic jet and regional turbo-prop aircraft operating Night Rider services."
"Night Rider flights are additional to the existing schedule, adding thousands of additional, affordable seats to these markets," said Struthers.
An airline spokeswoman said the month of Auckland-Nelson Night Rider flights sold out in less than a week and the Auckland-Christchurch services sold out after a little over a week of sales.
Further Night Rider services will be announced periodically on a surprise and delight basis.
"Customers around New Zealand who are interested in securing one of these great fares should keep an eye out for details around when and where Night Rider will operate next," said Struthers.
Night Rider flights don't offer the traditional in-flight drink and snack service and are subject to special conditions, including not being able to access the Koru Lounge prior to departure and the prohibition of carrying unaccompanied minors.
Source: Press Release - Air New Zealand and The New Zealand Herald
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