Air New Zealand will announce a new long-haul route before Christmas.

The airline has confirmed it is considering several new long-haul routes, and is seriously consider two routes.

Chief strategy officer Stephen Jones said the airline will make an announcement about one of the routes before the end of the year.

He said New Zealanders have embraced the airline's new Buenos Aires and Houston services this month.

Mr Jones said a second route will be announced in the new year, and both routes will be operating by the end of next year.

Yesterday the airline confirmed it was purchasing a new fleet of larger planes for regional routes.