Air New Zealand has entered a new cargo route between Melbourne and Los Angeles in a bid to plug the growing demand between the two territories.

In a statement, the New Zealand flag carrier said the freight service will soon be taking off after the airline was awarded the route as part of the Australian Government’s International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) programme.

The airline will operate one flight per week until October 31 with the first flight bound for Melbourne on July 3.

Air New Zealand noted that this will be in addition to the Brisbane – Los Angeles flying the airline has been doing since August 2020 under the same scheme.

Air New Zealand General Manager Cargo Anna Palairet says this will be the first time the airline has flown the route, and with the limited international flying currently happening, adding a new route to the mix is positive.

“This service will help Australian exporters get high-value, time-sensitive perishable exports to global markets and assist with importing nationally important goods to Australia. Over the next four months, the route will open the potential for nearly 1000 tonnes to be moved between Melbourne and Los Angeles,” she said.

“We know there is some big cargo demand on this route as it gives Australian exporters and importers another option to move products to and from the US. In fact, the first flight is already pre-sold.”

In May, the airline was also awarded more flying under the New Zealand Government’s Maintaining International Air Connectivity (MIAC) scheme.

Air New Zealand said this scheme has been extended through to October, and we will operate around 30 flights per week to 13 destinations including Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Shanghai, as well as maintaining air connectivity with key ports within the Pacific Islands.