Air India & Air New Zealand Partners For Better Travel Connectivity Between The Two Countries
Air India and Air New Zealand, both part of Star Alliance, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve air connectivity between India and New Zealand.
The agreement was signed in Mumbai in the presence of New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, and other key officials.
Travel Options For Passengers: All You Need To Know
As part of the deal, a new codeshare partnership will be introduced on 16 routes covering India, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. This means passengers will have more travel options and easier connections between the two countries.
Travellers from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai can now fly with Air India and seamlessly connect in Sydney, Melbourne, or Singapore to Air New Zealand flights heading to Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, and Queenstown.
Direct India-New Zealand Flights By 2028?
The agreement also includes plans to explore a direct India-New Zealand flight by 2028, depending on aircraft availability and government approvals.
Greg Foran, CEO of Air New Zealand, highlighted India’s fast-growing tourism market and increasing travel demand, “We are committed to working collaboratively to grow the travel market over the coming years, ensuring a strong foundation for a successful direct service by 2028.”
Air India Expands Global Reach
Air India has recently expanded codeshare agreements with Lufthansa Group, Singapore Airlines, and All Nippon Airways.
Air India’s CEO, Campbell Wilson, emphasised that this deal aligns with the airline’s global expansion strategy, “This partnership will not only strengthen our presence and simplify customer journeys, but also help us develop traffic so that, in time to come, we may viably operate a non-stop service between India and New Zealand, which we and Air New Zealand have committed to explore together with the respective authorities.”
When Will The Flights Be Available?
The new codeshare flights will be available for booking progressively, subject to regulatory approvals. This move is expected to enhance travel options while strengthening ties between the two nations.