Air New Zealand's CEO Explores Direct Flights to India Following Free Trade Agreement

Air New Zealand's Ambitious Plans for India

Rio de Janeiro: The CEO of Air New Zealand, Nikhil Ravishankar, has announced that the airline is evaluating the potential for direct flights to various cities in India. This initiative is bolstered by the recent free trade agreement between New Zealand and India, which enhances opportunities for greater connectivity between the two nations.

Ravishankar, who hails from Bengaluru, took over leadership at Air New Zealand in October 2025 after his family relocated to New Zealand when he was 14.

He stated, "We are exploring ways to strengthen connections between our countries and are collaborating closely with Singapore Airlines and Air India to facilitate travel to India."

During a media interaction at the IATA's annual general meeting, he confirmed that Air New Zealand has established a codeshare agreement with Air India, allowing passengers to book flights on partner airlines under a single ticket.

When asked about the possibility of direct flights between New Zealand and India, Ravishankar affirmed that efforts are underway to evaluate the feasibility of such routes.

The recent Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and New Zealand is seen as a significant step towards enhancing trade and fostering people-to-people connections.

Notably, the Indian community is the third largest ethnic group in New Zealand, and both nations share common interests, particularly in cricket. Interestingly, the outgoing CEO of Air India, Campbell Wilson, is originally from New Zealand.

Air New Zealand operates a fleet of approximately 115 aircraft, including both jets and turboprops, featuring wide-body models like the Boeing 777 and 787.

Additionally, the airline is collaborating with Indian firms such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and IBS Software for various services.

Air New Zealand, Air India, and Singapore Airlines are all members of the Star Alliance airline grouping.

In March of the previous year, Air India and Air New Zealand formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a new codeshare partnership covering 16 routes across India, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.

This partnership allows travelers from Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai to connect through Sydney, Melbourne, or Singapore to reach destinations in New Zealand such as Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, and Queenstown.

The MoU also includes plans to explore the introduction of a direct service between India and New Zealand by the end of 2028, contingent upon new aircraft deliveries and regulatory approvals.

Recently, Air New Zealand announced its commitment to enhancing connections between India and New Zealand by increasing capacity and improving access through Singapore.

Before his current role, Ravishankar served as the Chief Digital Officer at Air New Zealand, where he has spent nearly five years gaining extensive knowledge of the aviation industry and leading significant advancements in technology, customer loyalty programs, and overall service offerings.