Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand Ally to Jointly Operate the Singapore–Auckland Route

Travel Centre / Comprehensive Report

Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand have agreed to form an alliance to jointly operate the route between Singapore and Auckland. Singapore Airlines will operate the New Zealand route for the first time using the Airbus A380, gradually replacing the currently used smaller Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Meanwhile, since 2006, Air New Zealand will resume flights on the Auckland–Singapore route, using newly retrofitted Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, providing daily round-trip services between Auckland and Singapore.

The goal of both parties is to jointly increase passenger capacity on the Singapore–New Zealand route, achieving a gradual annual growth of thirty percent from current levels. Under this joint venture agreement, Singapore Airlines will continue to operate daily flights between Singapore and Christchurch. Both airlines are currently seeking approval for the alliance from Singapore’s Competition Commission and New Zealand’s Ministry of Transport. Subject to approval timelines, flights are expected to commence as early as December 2014.

This alliance will enable Air New Zealand passengers to travel on Singapore Airlines-operated codeshare flights to Singapore Airlines destinations in the UK, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa, as well as to destinations served by its regional airline, SilkAir. Likewise, Singapore Airlines passengers will be able to fly on Air New Zealand-operated flights to various domestic destinations within New Zealand and selected international points.