Star Alliance Partners Air New Zealand and Air India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the objective of boosting air connectivity between India and New Zealand. The MoU includes the establishment of a new codeshare partnership on 16 routes between India, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, conferring travellers more choice and convenient access between the two countries.
Customers will now be able to travel from the Indian cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai on Air India, and connect at Sydney, Melbourne or Singapore onto Air New Zealand-operated flights to Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown. Besides improving customers’ ease of booking and travel, the codeshare aims to increase visibility of the respective markets as tourism destinations.
The MoU will also see Air New Zealand and Air India explore the introduction of a direct service between India and New Zealand by the end of 2028, subject to new aircraft deliveries and approvals from relevant government regulators.
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Greg Foran emphasised the strategic significance of India as a future destination, highlighting its rapidly expanding tourism market and increasing travel demand. “India represents a key growth market for Air New Zealand, and we are excited about the opportunity to enhance connectivity for travellers between our two countries. This codeshare agreement is an important first step, offering more options for customers while we work to understand what a direct service could look like.”
Campbell Wilson, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Air India, said: “As part of Air India’s ongoing transformation, we have been expanding our global network using our own aircraft as well as through new or expanded codeshare agreements with other airlines, chiefly our Star Alliance partners. We are delighted to be deepening our relationship with Air New Zealand, which follows the recent expansion of our codeshare partnerships with Lufthansa Group, Singapore Airlines, and All Nippon Airways. This partnership will not only strengthen our presence and simplify customer journeys, but also help us develop traffic so that, in time to come, we may viably operate a non-stop service between India and New Zealand, which we and Air New Zealand have committed to explore together with the respective authorities.”
Etihad, Ethiopian launch JV, new flights
The national airlines of the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia have joined forces in a landmark Joint Venture (JV) that will transform connectivity between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The deal also includes a codeshare arrangement, unlocking greater travel opportunities for passengers across both networks.
As part of this collaboration, the airlines are launching new flights between Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa, strengthening ties between the two regions. Ethiopian Airlines will commence services from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) to Zayed International Airport (AUH) on 15 July, while Etihad Airways will introduce daily flights to Addis Ababa starting 1 October.
Subject to regulatory approval, the Etihad – Ethiopian JV will enable both airlines to collaborate in developing and expanding routes between the UAE and Ethiopia, as well as enhancing connectivity across their respective networks. This partnership is designed to deliver greater value to passengers by strengthening links between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, resulting in a more seamless and comprehensive combined network.
Ethiopian Airlines will operate the new route using its modern fleet, including the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350-1000, providing passengers with a comfortable travel experience. Ethiopian Airlines offers extensive connectivity from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, serving numerous international and domestic destinations with smooth transit options.
Vietjet expands services linking Vietnam with India and Japan
Vietjet has announced two new non-stop services connecting Ho Chi Minh City to Nagoya and Fukuoka in Japan. These additions bring Vietjet’s newly launched and announced international air links to 10 services within just two months, strengthening Vietnam’s connections to major global destinations in India, Japan, Singapore and China.
Vietjet is expanding its Vietnam-India flight network with two new direct routes: Ho Chi Minh City–Hyderabad and Ho Chi Minh City–Bengaluru, launched on March 18 and March 19, 2025, respectively. The Ho Chi Minh City–Hyderabad route operates two round-trip flights per week on Tuesdays and Saturdays, while the Ho Chi Minh City–Bengaluru route offers three round-trip flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. These new services are expected to strengthen air connectivity between the two countries, fostering tourism, business collaborations, and regional accessibility.
The airline now operates 10 routes with 78 weekly flights, connecting Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang to India’s major cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.
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