Singapore Airlines is increasing its capacity to and from New Zealand next year with more seats to Auckland and Christchurch.
The airline and codeshare partner Air New Zealand presently jointly operate three services a day between Auckland and Singapore, with Air New Zealand using a Boeing 787-9.
From 31st March next year, the second daily Air New Zealand service will use a Boeing 777-300ER, which will add another 17,000 seats over the NZ winter months.
The two airlines plan to jointly operate four daily flights between Auckland and Singapore from October 2024. The additional direct service, subject to regulatory approval, will use an Airbus A350-900 providing more than 1700 seats on the route each week.
That will perceive the airline partners jointly exceed their combined pre-Covid capacity on the route.
The fourth service will depart Singapore at 00:25 local time arriving in Auckland at 15:20. The return service, SQ288, will depart Auckland at 17:15 and will arrive back at Singapore Changi Airport at 22:40.
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The partners will also mount a three-times weekly supplementary service to Christchurch, operated by Singapore Airlines, across the busy end-of-year travel period, subject to regulatory approval, in addition to more flights from Auckland.
The airline presently flies one to two daily flights to Christchurch from Singapore.
George Robertson, Singapore Airlines general manager New Zealand – said the additional services would help to meet the continued high demand for travel to and from Aotearoa.
“We are pleased to step up our frequency to New Zealand in response to strong demand for travel into and out of the North and South Island since international borders reopened.
He stated that the investment in deepening their operational footprint across New Zealand also recognises the importance of our joint venture, with valued partner Air New Zealand.
Singapore Airlines announced the return of its flagship double-decker Airbus A380 to Auckland earlier this year.
The 471-seat superjumbo will replace the A350-900, adding an extra 1526 seats a week between Singapore and Auckland. The A380 is the world’s largest passenger jet.
It will be the first time Singapore Airlines has flown the aircraft to New Zealand since 2020, after Covid-19 suspended services, when it touches down later this month,.
The A380 will operate as a seasonal service to Auckland between November 22 to March 31, 2024.
