American Airlines has slashed prices on the Auckland-Los Angeles route today releasing limited $799 return fares for later this year.
The airline, which has teamed up with partner Qantas to take on Air New Zealand on the route, will start flights in June using a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
The fares are for travel between October 15 and December 15 and go on sale from 4pm today to midnight on April 1.
Passengers from Wellington and Christchurch can travel via Auckland for another $100 each.
The Wellington travel period is from October 17 to December 15 and the Christchurch window between October 15 and November 30.
It is the latest shot in an intensifying fare war across the Pacific where Air New Zealand hasn't had a direct flight competitor since 2012.
When American Airlines last November announced it was flying the route, Air New Zealand reacted by cutting some Grabaseat airfares to Los Angeles from about $785 to $499.
Fares on the route have ranged around $1500 to $1600 in the past depending on the time of travel.
In the past House of Travel has had one way airfares to the US for as low as $399.
Commercial director Brent Thomas said he believed this was the cheapest direct return fare the firm had been able to offer our customers.
"Five years ago return airfares on sale to LA retailed at between $1500 and $1600, double the cost of the airfare we have available through American Airlines from today. Increased capacity and competition among airlines continue to push airfare prices down - we believe this deal will be extremely well-received by Kiwis and is a sign of airfare pricing to come."
Erwan Perhirin, American Airlines vice president, Asia Pacific said today he expected competition to remain intense.
"It's one example of what choice and competition will bring to the market," he said.
This has allowed us to expand our footprint without investing in new capacity. We didn't have the aircraft to get into the route.
American Airlines is the world's biggest emerged from bankruptcy protection in 2013 but since its merger with US Airlines, restructuring and tail winds from lower fuel costs has made record profits and is growing aggressively.
In the past three years it has ordered 1000 new aircraft and is adding new planes to its fleet at the rate of two a week.
Perhirin said since announcing it would re-enter the New Zealand market, after a gap of 24 years, demand for its flights had been strong.
Airlines have struggled to make the transpacific market pay in the past, including Qantas which pulled out of the Auckland-Los Angeles route four years ago.
However, Pershirin said his airline was confident about the business case this time around for the flights which will be daily for much of the year.
"We don't go into a route without the full expectation and commitment to succeed and while pricing is one thing what we'll be focusing on is competing on product and service."
The American Airlines Dreamliners have a business class cabin with lie flat beds and offer wifi throughout the plane for $US20 ($NZ29) a flight. It was also relying on the expertise of its revenue partner, Qantas.
"Working with Qantas, adopting best practices, tailoring the product and service offering to local expectations is going to be part of winning a long term viability," he said.
Stephen Thompson, Qantas senior vice president Americas, NZ, Pacific Islands and Japan, said his airline didn't have the right plane when it last flew here so struggled and crucially, wasn't able to use a partner's aircraft.
"This has allowed us to expand our footprint without investing in new capacity. We didn't have the aircraft to get into the route," he said.
The Australian airline has expanded in New Zealand with Jetstar flying into regional routes meaning passengers were able to fly on routes such as from Nelson to New Orleans more seamlessly on the Qantas-American partnership.
