Will New Zealand soon get direct flights from India?

Air New Zealand and Air India are looking to introduce direct flights between India and New Zealand by the end of 2028. The two airlines also began a codeshare partnership allowing passengers to fly between the two airlines with ease.

An Air New Zealand Boeing 787 that could operate flights to India in the future | Photo: Noah Stohr-Waldren

This week, Air New Zealand and Air India signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the objective of boosting air connectivity between India and New Zealand. The MoU includes the establishment of a new codeshare partnership on 16 routes between India, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.

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.

The MoU also outlines Tourism New Zealand's commitment to growing inbound tourism from the Indian market. 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% more than pre-covid.

Last August, Foran revealed Air NZ was “very interested in exploring new routes to India, indicating that the region is developing for the national carrier as a market”.

An Air New Zealand’s Boeing 787 arriving after a flight from Asia | Photo: Noah Stohr-Waldren

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says there is a good case for demand beginning to take shape for direct flights between New Zealand and India.

Luxon admitted that he had not seen recent analysis but was “pushing all airlines really hard”.

“I think [given] the growth in the numbers of international tourists, international students, remembering every student brings in three or four other visitors in a given year, I think there’s a really good case to say there must be demand starting to build from at least New Delhi or Mumbai into Auckland directly.

However, according to the Luxon, the significant issue delaying plans for a direct service is demand.

“You’ve got to make sure that when you’ve got capital deployed with two big aircraft doing a daily service, you’ve got to cover costs.”