Singapore Airlines and Air NZ adds third daily Auckland-Singapore flight

December 7, 2017: Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand is expected to jointly launch a third daily flight between Singapore and Auckland starting October 28, 2018.

According to sources, it will help boost capacity on the route by up to 40 percent, and add over 165,000 seats annually between the two cities. Similarly, the additional service along with a revision of current schedules would reduce connection times, and enhance connectivity through the Singapore hub.

Reports suggest that the new service will operate daily during the peak Northern Winter season between October 28, 2018 and March 30, 2019, and five times every week during the Northern Summer season between March 31, 2019 and October 26, 2019.

During peak months, the airlines will jointly operate around 35 return services every week between Singapore and New Zealand, including Christchurch and Wellington flights.

Under the joint venture alliance which came into effect in January 2015, the airlines would continue to operate one daily return service each on the Singapore-Auckland 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 be operating a mix of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777-300ERs, depending on the season. On the other hand, Air New Zealand will operate its new configuration 787-9 aircraft, thereby offering more premium economy and business premier seats than its current 787-9 fleet.

Tan Kai Ping, senior vice president marketing planning of Singapore Airlines said: "Our alliance with Air New Zealand has already benefited customers with more capacity, choice, improved connections and codeshare destinations. We are proud of the alliance's three destinations in New Zealand%u2014Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. The new flight to Auckland is expected to further increase convenience for our customers and demonstrates our commitment to the New Zealand market."

Meanwhile, Nick Judd chief strategy, networks and alliances officer of Air New Zealand expects the new service and revised schedules to be attractive for travellers to and from Europe, India and Southeast Asia.