The recently approved codeshare alliance between Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines will officially launch on January 6th, 2015.
Codeshare flights on both airlines’ services between New Zealand and Singapore will go on sale this week. Each airline will operate one return service a day on the Auckland-Singapore route, with Singapore Airlines also operating a daily return service between Christchurch and Singapore.
Air New Zealand will operate newly refurbished B777-200 aircraft on the Auckland-Singapore route, while Singapore Airlines will operate A380s on the route during the Northern Winter operating season, reverting to B777-300ERs during the Northern Summer. Singapore Airlines will continue to operate retrofitted B777-200ERs on the Singapore-Christchurch route.
The stated goal of the alliance—which was approved by the New Zealand Minister of Transport last month, following clearance from the Competition Commission of Singapore—is to boost capacity and frequencies between New Zealand and Singapore by up to 30% year-round over time.
Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon said: “By working closely together, we hope we can further stimulate the market and drive visitor numbers from both ends of the route.”
Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong said the alliance was “a clear example of how our two airlines can do more by working together than we could do individually,” and reinforced the Singapore carrier’s commitment “to the important Southwest Pacific market.”