Air India has signed a codeshare agreement with Air New Zealand, expanding connectivity across India, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. The agreement—formalized during New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s visit to India—aims to simplify travel for passengers and explore the feasibility of a direct flight service between India and New Zealand by 2028.
Indian travelers from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai will now have seamless connections through Sydney, Melbourne, or Singapore, allowing them to reach Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, and Queenstown via Air New Zealand flights. This agreement enhances accessibility between the two countries and strengthens the presence of both airlines in these markets.
This move is part of Air India’s broader strategy to expand its international presence. The airline has recently entered into codeshare partnerships with Lufthansa Group, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Australia, and All Nippon Airways. Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India, stated that the codeshare will support future growth and help develop passenger traffic, eventually making a non-stop service between India and New Zealand viable.
Greg Foran, CEO of Air New Zealand, emphasized the increasing significance of India as a travel market. He highlighted the country’s expanding aviation sector and growing demand for international travel. According to Tourism New Zealand, around 18 million travelers from New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai are actively considering visiting New Zealand, making it a key emerging market.
Additionally, Foran expressed optimism about the long-term potential of the partnership, citing Air New Zealand’s ongoing investments in fleet expansion and enhanced passenger services to accommodate the anticipated rise in Indian travelers.
The agreement also focuses on growing tourism from India. With India poised to become the fifth-largest outbound travel market by 2027, New Zealand is positioning itself as a premier destination for Indian tourists. To capitalize on the growing interest, Tourism New Zealand, Auckland Airport, and Air New Zealand have signed an agreement to launch a seasonal marketing campaign encouraging off-peak travel. Additionally, Tourism New Zealand has partnered with nine Indian travel agencies—including MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, Thomas Cook India, SOTC Travel, and Veena World—to promote winter and spring travel to New Zealand.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon emphasized that, while cricket remains a strong cultural link between India and New Zealand, there are also vast opportunities for collaboration in sectors like technology and hospitality. Reflecting this, STAAH—a New Zealand-based hospitality technology firm—signed an agreement with The Clarks Hotels & Resorts in New Delhi to support India’s booming hospitality sector.
Beyond Air India and Air New Zealand, other international airlines are expanding their global reach through new agreements. Etihad Airways and Ethiopian Airlines have announced a joint venture (JV) to enhance connectivity between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The partnership includes a codeshare arrangement and new direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa, launching in July and October 2025, respectively.
Meanwhile, Vietjet has announced new non-stop services linking Vietnam with India and Japan. Two direct routes from Ho Chi Minh City to Hyderabad and Bengaluru are set to launch in March 2025, further strengthening ties between Vietnam and India.
The agreement between Air India and Air New Zealand marks a strategic step toward improved connectivity and travel convenience. By enhancing codeshare routes, exploring the potential for direct flights, and launching targeted tourism campaigns, both airlines are set to benefit from India’s rapidly growing travel market.
As international aviation rebounds and demand for global travel increases, such partnerships are expected to fuel tourism, business travel, and economic cooperation between key markets. The coming years will be crucial in determining whether the vision of a direct India–New Zealand flight will become a reality.
