Chinese carrier Tianjin Airlines has launched a new service to Auckland, New Zealand, with flights to begin this December.

Auckland Airport confirmed the news and revealed that Tianjian Airlines would fly between Tianjn, Chongqing, and Auckland three times per week using an A330 aircraft.

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Auckland will mark Tianjin Airline's first Australia-Asia destination, Norris Carter, general manager of Auckland Airport, said.

"This is great news for Auckland Airport as well as our city and the country," he said. "Regional China is a rapidly developing source market for New Zealand tourism and these new routes flying directly to Auckland provide another option for Chinese visitors to experience New Zealand."

An estimated 83,000 seats will be added to the new China-Auckland route every year and will provide a $102 million boost to New Zealand tourism sector.

Tianjin Airlines, which offers a full service, has a fleet of 89 aircrafts and flies to more than 100 destinations. It was founded in 2009 and was named the Best Regional Airline in China by SKYTRAX in 2011.

According to NBR, a further boost in traffic from China will follow in mid-November as Hong Kong Airlines would start competing with Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific for a direct Auckland to Hong Kong route.

Air China and China Eastern also started regular services last summer, and China Southern has boosted its capacity to New Zealand, NZ Herald reported.

An increasing number of new carriers are putting pressure on Air New Zealand, which recently announced its full-year profit on Friday.

TagsTianjin Airlines, Auckland, new zealand