Air India, Air New Zealand discuss JV for non-stop flights
AI Summary
Air India and Air New Zealand are in talks for a joint venture to establish non-stop flights between the two countries, enhancing travel convenience and connectivity. This collaboration follows Air India's existing agreements with other airlines and is supported by both governments to promote tourism and air connectivity. Regulatory approvals will be necessary for the partnership to proceed.
Air India and Air New Zealand are discussing a joint venture partnership to launch non-stop flights between the two countries.
A joint venture is a commercial agreement in which airlines collaborate on schedules, pricing and sales. Carriers can also share costs or revenue on the routes. Such agreements require anti-trust approvals from regulators.
Air India has already signed MoUs with Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines for joint business agreements covering route planning, flight schedules, joint sales and marketing etc. A similar arrangement is being considered with Air New Zealand too, given the long distance and comparatively low yields on the routes between the two countries.
“We signed an MoU with Air India in March 2025 with the ambition of making travel between New Zealand and India more convenient. Since then, we’ve implemented a codeshare agreement to provide customers with more travel options, and are continuing to work together, alongside Singapore Airlines, to explore opportunities to strengthen air links between the two countries,” Air New Zealand said in a statement on Monday.
“India is an exciting market for New Zealand, and continuing to grow air connectivity is part of making that opportunity real. Air New Zealand and Air India are now exploring the longer-term possibility of direct flights between India and New Zealand. Any future alliance would be subject to regulatory approval,” it added.
While the two airlines explore deeper partnership, connectivity and tourism initiatives have also found support from the governments of the two countries.
India and New Zealand signed a memorandum of arrangement to promote co-operation in tourism sector during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on Saturday. The joint statement released after a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also referred to discussions between the two leaders on direct air connectivity. The leaders encouraged airlines to commence non-stop flights between India and New Zealand, it said.
Original Article
Published on Hindu BusinessLine