Officials with Houston Airports recently led an air service development mission to promote travel, tourism and business opportunities between Houston and Auckland, New Zealand and Perth, Australia.

The Houston Airport System, the Greater Houston Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the State of Texas Tourism department sent representatives to the Asia-Pacific region to meet with business leaders, government officials, tourism groups, media and other key stakeholders. Discussions were based around new economic and tourism opportunities that exist between Houston and the two destinations due to new nonstop air service offered by Air New Zealand to Auckland.

“Auckland is not only an attractive vacation destination but shares many similarities with Houston including a diverse and growing population that creates investment opportunities. Houston and Perth are sister cities, and Houston is an important destination for Western Australia’s petroleum industry,” said Houston Airport System Chief External Affairs Officer Saba Abashawl. “This mission allowed us to educate and engage with stakeholders on benefits and advantages created with this new air service route and all that Houston has to offer.”

Houston is Air New Zealand’s first new U.S. destination in 11 years and marks the Houston Airport System’s 10th new international airline since April 2013. 

In 2014, almost 10 million people flew in and out of IAH aboard international flights and that number is expected to increase substantially once the final 2015 numbers are tallied.