Air New Zealand’s remaining flight to the U.S., now down to twice a week, will soon cease to be a non-stop as the airline adds a crew-change stop in Honolulu to avoid ground-time in California.
Passengers won’t get a chance to stretch their legs or get a welcoming lei, however; only the crew will be allowed off, and a new crew will board. The maneuver will allow the relief crew to fly a round-trip to Los Angeles, where Covid rates are much higher, without an overnight stay required by limits on pilot flying time.
The original crew will have a few days rest in Hawaii before flying another plane back to Auckland. The system will keep three crews rotating. American, United and Delta are using a similar system for their China flights, using a stop in Seoul, South Korea as the pivot point.
