Air New Zealand announced an expansion of its flight offerings to Shanghai, China, from New Zealand.

The airline said it increased its services to fly three times a week in early January and is moving to four passenger services a week from February 4, which is double what Air New Zealand was operating for the route at the end of last year.

Leanne Geraghty, Air New Zealand's chief customer and sales officer, said the extra flight takes the weekly capacity to 1,200 seats.

The additional flights to Shanghai are also expected to boost cargo capacity to and from the Chinese city.

Following the announcement of China reopening after nearly three years of restrictions, the airline noted that it has seen many people booking Shanghai flights.

"This will be the first Lunar New Year that Chinese living in Aotearoa can be reunited with their families for this special holiday," Geraghty said. "We're seeing very strong demand across January for our flights into China. Most flights are full or close to full."

Air New Zealand said all flights between Shanghai and Auckland would be operated on Boeing 787.

Cherry, fresh produce cargo to China

Aside from increased flights to China, Air New Zealand said it also launched two-cargo-only flights per week for its cherry cargo ahead of the Lunar New Year celebrations.

"Premium Central Otago cherries from New Zealand are a highly sought-after luxury gift across Asia during Chinese New Year. We're flying around 500 tonnes of cherries to Shanghai and Taipei ahead of the Lunar New Year," Geraghty noted.

"New Zealand seafood is also in high demand. We're transporting around 350 tonnes of fresh New Zealand seafood to Shanghai in time for the festivities."

The two cargo-only flights are in addition to the four-passenger flights Air New Zealand will operate from February 4 – for a total of six flights.

Air New Zealand has operated in China throughout Covid, taking New Zealand exports to market and bringing in vital supplies.