Direct flights resume between Chengdu, Auckland

The direct flights between China's Chengdu and Auckland of New Zealand officially resumed on Wednesday as a Sichuan Airlines' aircraft carrying over 200 Chinese tourists landed at the Auckland International Airport. The services had been suspended for more than four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions. The Chinese tourists were welcome by a special ceremony featured with traditional Maori dance and singing at the airport on Wednesday afternoon. Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong said there are now six airlines in operation of direct flights between the two countries, involving seven Chinese cities. Rachel Maidment, the director of the Auckland office of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said that the resumption of the Sichuan Airlines flight between Chengdu and Auckland is a positive milestone for New Zealand-China connectivity.<br/>