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Japan’s largest airline ANA Holdings Inc on Monday swung to a half-year profit and raised its full-year earnings target as a relaxation of COVID-19 border measures fosters a recovery in travel demand. ANA lifted its operating profit forecast to 65b yen ($440m) for the 12 months through March 31, up from earlier guidance of 50b yen, as it recovers from a 173b yen loss the prior year. The outlook is lower than the consensus forecast for operating profit of 70.4b yen, based on a Refinitiv poll of 12 analysts. CE Koji Shibata told reporters the company expects to return to pre-pandemic performance levels over fiscal year 2023 to 2025 and to be back on a growth trajectory from fiscal 2026. The Ukraine and Russia conflict poses a risk to that plan, however, as it imposes airspace detours around the area and makes it difficult to increase flights to Europe, he added. The company reported an operating profit of 31.45b yen in the six months through Sept. 30, compared to a loss of 116b yen a year earlier, it said. <br/>

Air New Zealand is celebrating a milestone in its recovery from the depths of the Covid pandemic. Sunday’s flight to Chicago means that it is now operating to all 29 international destinations it was serving before coronavirus. The national carrier will fly three times a week to the third-biggest US city on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty said it is an “exciting” time for the airline. ”Since New Zealand’s borders reopened, we’ve been slowly resuming services and to now be flying to all our international destinations is a milestone moment for us,” said Geraghty. Chicago offers a stepping stone to many other US cities. “Customers flying into Chicago O’Hare International will benefit from convenient one-stop codeshare connections to around 100 destinations across the US via the airline’s strong partnership with United Airlines. This resumed service also adds to Chicago O’Hare International’s ranking as the most connected airport in the world.” Air New Zealand earlier announced a return of non-stop services to Bali next year. The return of the Chicago service is another step in the comeback of international tourism to these shores.<br/>

Air New Zealand's CE says more planes are on the way and with them the hope of cheaper airfares. The national carrier is facing heavy criticism over the cost of its flights, with some passenger saying prices are two- to three-times what they were pre-pandemic. CE Greg Foran said they were expecting half a dozen planes to arrive over the next seven months. With more planes, prices would start to moderate, he said. Foran said: "We are still doing everything that we can to bring capacity back as quickly as we can in also ensuring that our opening price points are there and available for customers." Domestic travel ticket costs are up by 20% pre-Covid while international flight tickets costs are up by 50% from pre-Covid days, Foran said. RNZ has reported travellers paying double or triple for airline tickets compared to pre-pandemic days.A ticket to India, which had cost less than $2000 is now priced over $4000, while a flight to UK that previously cost about $2900 now cost anywhere between $5000 to $13000. Checkpoint also reported domestic travel ticket rates of $700 for a return ticket from Auckland to Wellington, for this week.<br/>