With India projected to become the world’s third largest aviation market by 2020 and the recent signing of an Air Services Agreement between our two governments, my prediction is that one day you will be able to get on a flight in Auckland and 12,300km (approx 16 hours later) arrive at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. I believe that Air New Zealand’s number cruncher’s and marketing teams are exploring the feasibility of a number of new destinations including direct flights to India (Mumbai) as part of its international route network expansion plans.

Other destinations in India will not be forgotten but these will likely be serviced by code share agreements. Air New Zealand has this month launched a code share agreement with alliance partner Singapore Airlines, bringing more convenient connections between India and New Zealand. The codeshare services will offer India customers seamless connections from six key cities including Mumbai, Bangalore, Cochin, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai to Singapore via Singapore Airlines and Silk Air flights and on to Air New Zealand’s daily services from Singapore to Auckland. India customers will have the ability to book from other Singapore Airlines and Silk Air ports such as Delhi through Air New Zealand’s interline relationship with Singapore Airlines. In addition, India customers will also have a choice to connect on Singapore Airlines flights to Auckland, Wellington (via Canberra) or Christchurch. Together, both airlines offer three direct flights from Singapore to New Zealand under their alliance agreement.

The air services agreement also gives Air India the option of direct flights from Delhi to Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch and also fifth freedom rights to Fiji. Expect them to be explored in the near future.

Facts:

• India & New Zealand Air Services Agreement signed 1 May 2016
• Annual trade with India is worth more than $1 billion
• In the year to 31 March 2016, almost 52,000 Kiwis travelled to India and 60,000 Indians visited New Zealand.
• More than 160,000 people of Indian descent live in New Zealand.
• Air India, Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand are Star Alliance members
• Code share agreement established with Singapore Airlines via Singapore with six cities in India
• The Air Services Agreement also allows the Republic of India direct flights (ex New Delhi), fifth freedom rights and code share agreements with New Zealand