AUCKLAND– Air New Zealand (NZ) is stepping up its long-term strategy to strengthen connectivity with India, working alongside Air India (AI) on plans that could eventually support direct flights between the two countries.
The initiative follows the signing of the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA). It comes as travel demand continues to rise between Auckland Airport (AKL) and major Indian cities.
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Nikhil Ravishankar said the airline is focused on building sustainable passenger demand before launching nonstop services.
While direct flights remain under evaluation, the carrier is expanding its presence through Singapore Airlines (SQ) and Air India, giving travelers access to 16 Indian cities through connecting services.
India Growth Strategy Gains Momentum
Ravishankar, who spent his early years in Bengaluru before moving to New Zealand as a teenager, believes India’s rapid economic transformation presents significant opportunities for aviation, tourism, and trade.
He said the recently signed FTA represents an important milestone that could accelerate business activity between the two countries.
However, he stressed that companies seeking success in India must invest time in developing long-term relationships rather than expecting immediate returns.
According to Ravishankar, India should not be viewed as a single market.
Instead, businesses should approach regions such as Bengaluru-Chennai, Mumbai-Ahmedabad, and the Delhi metropolitan area separately because each has unique economic strengths, consumer demand, and investment priorities.
He also noted that India’s regulatory environment has become increasingly business-friendly over the past decade, with reforms improving transparency and simplifying procedures for investors.
Direct Flight Plans Move Forward
Although New Zealand and India currently lack nonstop passenger services, Air New Zealand sees future potential for a direct route once market conditions mature.
The airline is working with Air India on a proposed joint venture that would allow both carriers to coordinate schedules, share revenue, and expand commercial cooperation. Regulatory approvals will be required in both countries before any agreement can take effect.
Ravishankar said the airline wants to ensure demand exists across three major customer segments before committing aircraft to a nonstop route. These include travelers visiting friends and relatives, corporate passengers, and premium leisure travelers.
Rather than waiting until a route launches, Air New Zealand plans to stimulate demand in advance through targeted marketing campaigns.
The airline will also establish a stronger on-the-ground presence in India by deploying senior marketing staff to key cities to promote New Zealand as a premium travel destination.
For now, passengers can travel between New Zealand and India through Singapore using Air New Zealand’s partnership with Singapore Airlines and onward connections with Air India.
Tourism Demand Sees Strong Growth
India continues to emerge as one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing visitor markets.
Tourism figures show the country welcomed 113,800 visitors from India during the latest annual reporting period, while approximately 8,000 Indian tourists arrived in April alone, marking a 17% year-on-year increase and a record for the month.
The growing Indian diaspora in New Zealand, estimated at around 300,000 people, is also supporting strong visiting friends and relatives (VFR) traffic, NZ Herald reported.
Ravishankar believes continued collaboration between airlines, tourism authorities, and businesses will help strengthen awareness of New Zealand among Indian travelers.
He pointed to Switzerland’s successful positioning in India’s premium travel market as an example Air New Zealand hopes to emulate while laying the groundwork for future nonstop services.
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