Qantas New Zealand’s regional general manager Rohan Garnett says the withdrawal of the airline from the Auckland – LA route was part of a broader strategy to restructure the company’s international operations.

“Unfortunately the Auckland – LA route, which primarily serves leisure passengers, is not profitable and the difficult decision has been made to cease operations. 

“We remain 100 per cent committed to the trans-Tasman market and will continue to operate around 30 flights a day between New Zealand and Australia,” Rohan Garnett said.

Qantas will also continue to offer several flights each day to the United States from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with the Sydney-Auckland portion of the LA service remaining and being served by a Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

“Our Australia – United States service offers passengers a wider choice of flights and aircraft, including the new A380 and First Class service.

The Auckland – LA service is one of a number of underperforming routes that Qantas has withdrawn from in a difficult operating environment. Like all airlines, Qantas is under pressure from the European debt crisis and sustained high fuel prices.  At this stage there is no impact on jobs in New Zealand, Mr Garnett said.