Air NZ Holidays set for Australia return

Air New Zealand Holidays is to return to the Australian market under a joint venture between the airline and The AOT Group.

The two companies began working together in November 2011 with the brand "going from strength to strength" across the Tasman.

AOT Group chief executive Andrew Burnes said the "time is right" to re-introduce the operation into Australia. A range of brochures specifically for the local market will be released early this year.

"Although Air New Zealand Holidays was withdrawn from the Australian market in 2007, the brand is still well recognised and respected," he said. "The brand will provide a particularly strong product offering for New Zealand and the South Pacific, as well as other global destinations."

The relaunch has been timed to coincide with the release of The Hobbit movie with a flyer promoting several packages set for distribution next week.

"This is a very exciting phase of the Air New Zealand Holidays journey and we are very much looking forward to working with the industry to ensure its success," Burnes said.