Air India (AI) and Air New Zealand (NZ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen air connectivity between India and New Zealand. The agreement establishes a new codeshare partnership covering 16 routes and explores the possibility of direct flights between Delhi and Auckland by the end of 2028.
Under the codeshare agreement, passengers can travel from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai on Air India flights, connecting at Sydney, Melbourne, or Singapore to Air New Zealand-operated flights to Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, and Queenstown. This will significantly improve travel between the two countries, which currently lack direct connectivity and take around 17-30 hours with connecting flights.
The partnership aims to increase market visibility for both countries as tourism destinations. In 2023, New Zealand welcomed 87,000 Indian visitors, a 23% increase from 2019 levels, with 72% visiting during off-peak seasons. Tourism New Zealand data indicates that 18 million people in India are actively considering visiting New Zealand, with 57% identifying it as their top destination choice.
New Zealand currently hosts around 330,000 people of Indian origin, with India being the country’s second-largest source of international students and largest source of skilled migrants.
To support the partnership, Auckland Airport has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, India’s busiest airport. The agreement aims to strengthen ties between the two airports, which facilitate tourism, trade, and people-to-people links between the two countries.
Additionally, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has entered a five-year partnership with Air New Zealand to modernize the airline’s digital infrastructure and advance its AI-driven innovation capabilities. The collaboration aims to enhance Air New Zealand’s digital capabilities, improve customer experience, and drive operational efficiencies across fleet management, crew scheduling, and ground services.