NEW DELHI: Air connectivity between India and New Zealand, Star Alliance partners Air India (AI) and Air New Zealand (NZ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a comprehensive codeshare partnership. The agreement, formalized at the โTravel and Tourism Receptionโ hosted by New Zealand Tourism at the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, also sets the stage for potential direct flights between India and New Zealand by 2028.
The high-profile event saw the presence of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, underscoring the strategic importance of this aviation collaboration.
The codeshare agreement, effective immediately and subject to regulatory approvals, will cover 16 routes linking Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai with New Zealand cities such as Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, and Queenstown. These connections will be facilitated via transit hubs in Sydney, Melbourne, and Singapore, where Air Indiaโs services will connect seamlessly to Air New Zealand-operated flights.
Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson highlighted the codeshare as part of the airlineโs global expansion and transformation strategy, especially under the Tata Groupโs privatization-driven overhaul. โThis collaboration complements our recent codeshare tie-ups with Lufthansa Group, Singapore Airlines, and All Nippon Airways, and brings us closer to launching direct flights to New Zealand in the coming years,โ he stated. The direct flight routeโs launch by 2028, however, will depend on the availability of appropriate long-haul aircraft and necessary regulatory approvals.
Greg Foran, Chief Executive of Air New Zealand, called the agreement a โkey first stepโ in strengthening bilateral air connectivity. โIndia represents a key growth market for us, and this partnership offers more choices to travelers. Itโs also a foundation for the direct Delhi-Auckland route we aim to start by 2028,โ he said. Foran added that this initiative will further strengthen business, tourism, and education ties between the two countries.
The timing of this partnership aligns with a significant uptick in travel demand between the two nations. In 2024, nearly 351,000 passengers traveled between India and New Zealand โ a 78% increase since 2015, with Delhi-Auckland traffic alone contributing 110,000 journeys.
New Zealand is home to an Indian diaspora of 330,000 people, making India the largest source of skilled migrants and the second-largest source of international students. Additionally, Tourism New Zealandโs market study found that 18 million residents from Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai are considering New Zealand as a travel destination.
Tourism New Zealand CEO Rene de Monchy praised the agreement as a โgame-changer for international tourism.โ He stated that stronger aviation links are vital for increasing arrivals from India, which helps fill travel demand during New Zealandโs off-peak seasons, thereby balancing tourism flows year-round.
This partnership further builds on Air New Zealandโs existing alliance with Singapore Airlines, which already enables smoother connections through Singapore. Under the new deal, Air India will place its โAIโ flight code on Air New Zealandโs flights to New Zealand via Sydney, Melbourne, and Singapore, while Air New Zealand will add its โNZโ code to Air India flights from India to those hubs โ a reciprocal visibility boost for both airlines.
While the direct Delhi-Auckland flight has generated excitement, it remains contingent on aircraft readiness and infrastructure. Air India is undergoing a massive fleet modernization as part of its expansion push, while Air New Zealand sees India as one of the fastest-growing outbound markets, projected to become the worldโs fifth-largest by 2027.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon emphasized the economic potential of India-New Zealand ties. โIndia is the worldโs fastest-growing major economy. Enhanced connectivity will fuel trade, tourism, and people-to-people ties,โ he said. His visit also marked a separate MoU signing between Auckland Airport and Delhiโs Indira Gandhi International Airport, further deepening aviation cooperation.
The codeshare flights will be available progressively for booking through the airlinesโ official platforms and travel agencies, once regulatory clearances are secured. Aviation experts believe this move strategically positions both carriers to tap into an underserved route and strengthens their footprint in the competitive Asia-Pacific travel market.
As Air India and Air New Zealand take this leap toward greater connectivity, the partnership not only opens immediate avenues for travelers but also promises a transformative direct air bridge between the two nations by 2028 โ reflecting growing ambitions and strong bilateral camaraderie.
