Air India, Air New Zealand sign MoU to improve air connectivity

Air India and Air New Zealand, both Star Alliance members, Wednesday said they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve air connectivity between the two countries. The agreement was formalized in Mumbai in the presence of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

The pact establishes a codeshare partnership on 16 routes across India, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. Travelers from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai can fly Air India and connect via Sydney, Melbourne, or Singapore to Air New Zealand flights to Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, and Queenstown.

The airlines will also explore a direct India-New Zealand service by 2028, subject to aircraft availability and regulatory approvals.


“India represents a key growth market for Air New Zealand. This codeshare is an important first step while we work to understand what a direct service could look like,” Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran said in a statement.

“We are deepening our relationship with Air New Zealand as part of our network expansion. This partnership strengthens our presence and could help us operate a non-stop service in the future,” Air India CEO Campbell Wilson added.

Codeshare flights will be available for booking progressively, subject to regulatory approvals.