Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand have agreed an alliance allowing ANZ to fly the Auckland-Singapore route again and SIA to operate the Airbus A380 to New Zealand for the first time.
The A380 would be operated daily by SIA between Singapore and Auckland, progressively replacing an existing daily service with the smaller Boeing 777-300ER.
ANZ would launch daily services between Auckland and Singapore using newly-refitted Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, taking over five flights currently operated by SIA and adding two more weekly flights, increasing the frequency to daily.
SIA’s daily Singapore-Christchurch service would continue as part of the alliance.
The proposed alliance would enable ANZ passengers to access codeshare travel on the SIA network to the UK, Europe, South East Asia and Africa, as well as on the network of its regional subsidiary airline, SilkAir.
SIA’s customers would be able to access codeshare travel across the ANZ domestic network and to selected international destinations.
ANz CEO Christopher Luxon said: “Air New Zealand is on a positive growth trajectory with a clear focus on Pacific Rim destinations.
“An alliance with Singapore Airlines clearly fits our business objectives of working with the right partners in the right markets to deliver seamless customer journeys.”
ANZ last operated to Singapore in 2006.
Pending approval, flights could commence as early as December.
