Long Haul Await: 2028 Target Set for First Direct Flights Between Auckland and Delhi
Travelers seeking direct flights between New Zealand and India can finally mark a date on their calendars – though they will have to wait over three years from now.
The airline announcement made its debut during a Tourism NZ event hosted by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the prestigious Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai on Thursday morning,NZ time.
Luxon managed to find some time to connect with renowned Bollywood personalities including actor Aamir Khan, actress Vidya Balan, film producer Siddharth Roy Kapur, business magnate Ronnie Screwvala, and director Ashutosh Gowariker.
"The movie industry injects funds into our economy, leading to job creation and increased incomes, and I aim to witness more of this. It was fantastic to meet some Bollywood celebrities and hear their ideas on how we can achieve even more," he shared on Instagram.
Previously, the departing CEO of Air New Zealand, Greg Foran, along with Campbell Wilson from Air India, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The aim was to enhance air connectivity between their respective countries.
The pair decided on a "codeshare agreement," which simplifies booking consecutive flights between the two nations for travelers.
Regarding the anticipated direct service, the Memorandum of Understanding indicates that the airlines will "investigate" this potentiality "by the conclusion of 2028." This agreement hinges upon receiving new aircraft and obtaining necessary regulatory permissions.
Talking to the press in India, Foran mentioned that the postponement was solely because of a scarcity of appropriate airplanes globally.
Direct flights between NZ and India scheduled for 2028 (3 min 30 sec)
"The airline ecosystem is still getting back on stream… Boeing is still getting up to speed. Airbus aren't quite hitting their production targets.
"I've shared previously that Air New Zealand is waiting for planes. They're actually about five years late."
Foran said the announcement should be seen as a signal that the intent and ambition were there.
He stated that they will be introducing a direct flight to New Zealand to offer their clients an exceptional tourism experience.
Individually, Luxon informed journalists that the administration would contribute to getting the pathway operational.
It’s crucial this happens. Indeed, we have the aspect of accessing aircraft covered, yet our approach will be entirely from a governmental perspective to ensure smooth operations, with nothing getting bogged down in bureaucratic processes.
Ranjna Patel, who was part of the community delegation, mentioned that many individuals would feel let down due to the insufficient details provided and the extended waiting period.
It’s clear the deal is sealed, and we wished it happened the day before yesterday.
The India NZ Business Council chairman, Bharat Chawla, stated that a direct flight was "the top priority" for the community.
Although he had a better grasp of the schedule, considering the scarcity of long-haul aircraft, he said: "We've been waiting for a decade, but at least we're hopeful now."
For many years, the Indian community in New Zealand has been requesting a direct flight because the current trip necessitates at least one layover, usually in Singapore.
In 2016, the National government led by Sir John Key inked an air services pact with India, which was touted as clearing the path for non-stop flights.
In 2023, the Labour government continued to ease restrictions by signing an MoU that facilitated greater cooperation in civilian air travel between the nations.
Last year, Foran said to 'sصندVMLINUX Checkpoint the airline wished to discover additional paths to India Once it faced strong economic “headwinds.”
Tourism NZ similarly employed this feature to launch a winter marketing initiative aimed at attracting Indian travelers.
Over 80,000 tourists came from India last year, an increase of 23 percent compared to 2019.
Research conducted by Tourism NZ revealed that 18.3 million prospective travelers from Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru were seriously thinking about visiting New Zealand. Among these individuals, 43 percent rated New Zealand as their premier travel destination.
Prime Minister's strict plan moves forward in Mumbai
Luxon reached Mumbai on Wednesday evening under NZDT to kick off the next phase of his diplomatic efforts in India aimed at improving relations.
With a stronger emphasis on commerce, Luxon immediately left the Defence Force 757 and headed out to meet the chairman of Tata Group, which is India’s biggest business group.
Luxon received a guided tour of the Tata Consultancy Services premises and observed another Memorandum of Understanding being signed with Air New Zealand.
Afterwards, it was time for more one-on-one discussions: Luxon initially met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis, followed by Governor Shri C P Radhakrishnan.
In addition, he went to the Bombay Stock Exchange to ring the closing bell for trade activities.
Luxon arrived tardy, which meant the previous speakers hastened their remarks as time sprinted towards 5 pm.
The authorised photograph documented the moment of impact occurring at 17:03.
On what appears to be his third consecutive day in India, the prime minister’s energy seems to have dipped; as a result, a scheduled press interaction has been delayed multiple hours to provide time for him to regain his stamina.
However, Luxon refuted that the rigorous schedule was having an impact: "Everything is paced perfectly, feeling like an energized rabbit, all set to continue."
Luxon has just one more day left in Mumbai before he leaves. He is scheduled to return to New Zealand very early on Saturday.
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