American Airlines have delayed the launch of their Christchurch - Los Angeles service due to commence in January 2022.
Services between Auckland - Los Angeles along with Auckland - Dallas Fort Worth have also been delayed with no time-frame announced for the commencement of these flights.
American Airlines began flying seasonally between Auckland and Los Angeles in 2016, and announced in September 2019 that they would also launch flights on the Christchurch to Los Angeles and Auckland to Dallas Fort Worth routes that were due to commence in 2020. The launch of these routes was delayed due to the Covid-19 global pandemic.
American Airlines announced the resumption of the Auckland to Los Angeles route from December 2021 earlier in the year, and in May 2021 Christchurch airport announced the launch of American Airlines services from Christchurch to Los Angeles commencing in January 2022.
New Zealand currently has strict border restrictions due to the pandemic, with travel largely restricted to citizens and permanent residents. All arrivals into the country are required to quarantine in government managed quarantine facilities for two weeks on arrival.
It is not expected at this point that any loosening of these restrictions or opening of the borders will occur until well into 2022 after New Zealand has competed its vaccine rollout.
