Air India (AI) and Air New Zealand (NZ) have formally entered into a partnership aimed at improving air travel between India and New Zealand.
Signed during the Travel and Tourism Reception in Mumbai, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) sets the stage for a possible direct Delhi-Auckland flight by 2028.
Expanding Air Connectivity Through Codeshare Partnership
The codeshare agreement between Air India and Air New Zealand will provide travellers with seamless connectivity between major Indian cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai—and key destinations in New Zealand, including Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, and Queenstown.
These routes will be facilitated through transit points in Sydney, Melbourne, or Singapore, leveraging both airlines’ membership in the Star Alliance network.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who attended the signing event in Mumbai, emphasised the economic opportunities the partnership presents, stating,
“India is the world’s fastest-growing major economy, and represents such an amazing set of opportunities for our exporters to grow their markets.” Both airlines are exploring the feasibility of a direct flight between Delhi and Auckland by 2028.
Passengers are currently facing gruelling travel times of 17 to 30 hours, often with multiple stopovers just to get to Aotearoa. Therefore a direct flight would streamline travel, making New Zealand more accessible and enhancing bilateral trade and tourism.
Surging Demand for Travel Between India and New Zealand
The demand for travel between India and New Zealand is growing rapidly, with Tourism New Zealand reporting that 18 million Indians are actively considering the country as a travel destination. 87,000 Indian visitors travelled to New Zealand in 2023, a 23% increase from 2019.
Auckland Airport, managing 75% of New Zealand’s international arrivals, is central to accommodating this demand. An estimated 351,000 people travelled between the two nations, including 110,000 trips between Delhi and Auckland in 2024.
Auckland Airport has signed an MoU with Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport to lay the groundwork for a direct Delhi-Auckland flight to further support this surge in travel.
Carrie Hurihanganui, CEO of Auckland Airport and Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, Delhi Airport CEO have both emphasised their commitment to making this a reality.
Air New Zealand’s Digital Transformation
Air New Zealand has entered into a five-year partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to modernise its digital infrastructure. The agreement, signed at TCS’ Banyan Park Campus in Mumbai, marks a major step in Air New Zealand’s commitment to becoming the most digitally advanced airline.
The partnership will focus on utilising artificial intelligence and digital solutions to improve customer experience, optimise fleet management, and streamline crew scheduling. The signing event saw New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Tata Group Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran, and TCS CEO K. Krithivasan in attendance.
Conclusion
The latest agreements between India and New Zealand represent a significant leap in aviation and digital cooperation.
The codeshare partnership between Air India and Air New Zealand is set to improve travel convenience, while the MoU between Auckland and Delhi airports moves the prospect of a direct flight route closer to reality.
Additionally, Air New Zealand’s digital collaboration with TCS highlights the increasing influence of Indian technology firms in shaping the future of global aviation, with AI-driven solutions expected to enhance operations and customer service.