The lucrative Indian travel market could be boosted with Air New Zealand and Air India signing a new codeshare partnership agreement.
The agreement also includes an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore direct flights between India and New Zealand.
Once in place there is also potential for an increase in Indian delegates attending conferences.
The MoU was signed at an event in Mumbai in the presence of the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, and other dignitaries.
The MoU includes the establishment of a new codeshare partnership on 16 routes between India, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, conferring travellers more choice and convenient access between the two countries.
Customers will now be able to travel from the Indian cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai on Air India, and connect at Sydney, Melbourne or Singapore onto Air New Zealand-operated flights to Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown.
Besides improving customers’ ease of booking and travel, the codeshare aims to increase visibility of the respective markets as tourism destinations.
The MoU will also see Air New Zealand and Air India explore the introduction of a direct service between India and New Zealand by the end of 2028, subject to new aircraft deliveries and approvals from relevant government regulators.
Air New Zealand chief executive, Greg Foran, emphasised the strategic significance of India as a future destination, highlighting its rapidly expanding tourism market and increasing travel demand.
“India represents a key growth market for Air New Zealand, and we are excited about the opportunity to enhance connectivity for travellers between our two countries,” he said.
“This codeshare agreement is an important first step, offering more options for customers while we work to understand what a direct service could look like.
“Today’s event underscores the significance of the India market to New Zealand, not only for tourism but also for strengthening business and education ties. We are committed to working collaboratively to grow the travel market over the coming years, ensuring a strong foundation for a successful direct service by 2028.”
Managing director and CEO of Air India, Campbell Wilson, said this latest partnership was evidence of the ongoing transformation of the airline.
“This partnership will not only strengthen our presence and simplify customer journeys, but also help us develop traffic so that, in time to come, we may viably operate a non-stop service between India and New Zealand, which we and Air New Zealand have committed to explore together with the respective authorities.”
Tourism New Zealand’s research shows that 18 million people in New Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai are actively considering traveling to New Zealand, making it a key emerging market.
More than 80,000 international travellers arrived from India last year, 23 per cent more than in 2019.