Air NZ Holidays returns to the Australian marketplace.

Air New Zealand Holidays will return to Australia after a five year hiatus, coinciding with the release of the new film ‘The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey’.

In November last year the AOT Group and Air New Zealand formed a joint venture in order operate and market the Air New Zealand Holidays brand.

“This has proved to be an extremely successful partnership, with the brand going from strength to strength in New Zealand,” AOT Group chief executive Andrew Burnes said.

“As a result, we believe the time is right for the brand to re-enter the Australian market”, Mr Burnes said.

Air New Zealand Holidays was previously removed from the Australian market in 2007.

“The brand will provide a particularly strong product offering for New Zealand and the South Pacific, as well as other key global destinations” Mr Burnes said.

The re-introduction of the brand into the Australian marketplace was purposefully timed to coincide with the release of the new ‘Hobbit’ film, released on Boxing Day.

Specific Australian brochures will be launched early this year, providing an extensive array of holiday options in New Zealand and the South Pacific.