Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand have announced they will jointly launch a third daily flight between Singapore and Auckland from October 28th next year, boosting capacity on the route by up to 40 per cent and adding more than 165,000 seats annually between the two cities.
The additional service, along with a revision of current schedules, will shorten connection times and improve connectivity through the Singapore hub.
During peak months the airlines will jointly operate a total of 35 return services a week between Singapore and New Zealand, including Christchurch and Wellington flights.
Under their joint venture alliance that took effect in January 2015, the airlines will continue to operate one daily return service each on the Auckland-Singapore route, with a third service operated by Singapore Airlines during the Northern Winter season and Air New Zealand during the Northern Summer season.
Singapore Airlines will operate a mix of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777-300ERs, depending on the season.
Air New Zealand will operate its new configuration 787-9 aircraft, offering more Premium Economy and Business Premier seats than its current 787-9 fleet.
Singapore Airlines senior vice president, marketing planning, Tan Kai Ping, said: “Our alliance with Air New Zealand has already benefited customers through more capacity, choice, improved connections and more codeshare destinations.
“We are proud of the alliance’s three destinations in New Zealand – Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington.
“The new flight to Auckland will increase convenience for our customers and demonstrates our commitment to the New Zealand market.”
The new joint service and revised flight schedules are subject to regulatory approvals.
Air New Zealand chief strategy, networks and alliances officer, Nick Judd, expects the new service and revised schedules to be especially appealing to travellers to and from Europe, India and south-east Asia.
Tickets for the new Singapore-Auckland service will be made available for sale progressively through the various distribution channels from today.