SIA and Air New Zealand clinches regulatory approval for alliance extension

They will shorten connection time to Europe, India, and Southeast Asia.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Air New Zealand secured the regulatory approval from New Zealand’s Ministry of Transport to extend their joint venture alliance for five more years until March 2024, an announcement revealed.

Since its launch back in January 2015, the alliance boosted the flight frequency of the two airlines on routes between Singapore and New Zealand, including a new Singapore-Wellington service via Australia which started to take off in 2016. They have also increased peak season services to Christchurch.

“The decision to re-authorise the alliance reinforces the benefits it has delivered to the New Zealand market in its first four years,” SIA senior vice president for marketing and planning Tan Kai Ping said.

The alliance has also boosted seat capacity by more than 25% between Singapore and New Zealand. By 28 October, the carriers will fly a third daily service between Singapore and Auckland to bolster capacity by 40% on the route, with more than 165,000 additional seats annually.

Moreover, the alliance also mulls to shorten connection times and improve connectivity to destinations in Europe, India and Southeast Asia through the Singapore hub.

During peak months, the airlines will jointly operate a total of 35 return services a week between Singapore and New Zealand, including services to Wellington and Christchurch.