New Zealand Airline History: Air New Zealand domestic timetable 1988

Following nearly a year of direct competition with Ansett New Zealand, Air New Zealand refined its schedule and its domestic product to be more competitive. This is the full timetable for the period from 28 March 1988 until October 1988.

From a product point of view, Air New Zealand's key innovation was to split its Boeing 737 fleet into two, with different products. Standard two class (with full service economy and Pacific (business) class), and Citysaver (which was an all-economy class no-frills). Flights were split into City Saver and standard flights, operated by the respective aircraft in the two configurations. Super City Saver were fares off-peak, but there were also off-peak fares with standard aircraft (Thrifty and Super Thrifty fares),

The difference in product was in on-board service, described on pg 77:

Pacific Class: Hot meals provided at breakfast, lunch and dinner periods, with snacks at other times (except between Dunedin and Invercargill). Standard 737 services, and 767 and 747 services. Depicted in more detail on pg. 97 (with middle seat blocked, sheepskin seat covers and Koru Club access).
Economy Class 737, 767 and 747 services: Cold meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner periods, with snack at other times (except between Dunedin and Invercargill).
City Saver/Super City Saver services: Fruit juice only
Fokker F27 services between Auckland and Gisborne, Napier, Nelson and Palmerston North. Between Wellington and Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga and Timaru. Between Christchurch and Napier and Palmerston North. Light refreshments, of cheese, biscuits and beverages.

The two-tier 737 service was ultimately not a success. It was intended to provide a no-frills option for business travellers, with cheaper fares for last-minute travel at peak times, at a lower cost. The idea being that many travellers cared little about on-board service, but were more price sensitive, so having regular services that were no-frills provided flexibility for travellers.

However, it did mean there was complexity in levels of service. For casual travellers, they could often get cheaper Thrifty and Super Thrifty fares on full service aircraft, and get refreshments. The complexity of different levels of service added cost, and Ansett NZ by contrast just had a single full-service operation. The benefits of a no-frills airline in terms of cost were diluted by the costs of providing the full-service operation as well, without the flexibility of aircraft being able to substitute for each other.

This timetable also fully integrates Mount Cook Airline services into the timetable. It also has timetables for Safe Air, Bell Air, Eagle Airways and Southern Air, as well as information about air cargo and ground transport transfers from airports served by Air NZ.

Airfares at the time are also included. For example, Wellington-Auckland varied from $184.80 in Pacific Class ($451 in 2023 prices) one way, to $73 for super thrifty fares ($178 in 2023 prices).