Air New Zealand is considering launching nonstop flights between New Zealand and India, with a potential target date of late 2028, according to an article published in Outlook Traveller on June 20, 2026.
The proposed service is being developed in collaboration with Air India and fellow Star Alliance partner Singapore Airlines as part of efforts to strengthen air connectivity between the two countries.
The move comes amid growing travel demand fuelled by a large Indian diaspora in New Zealand, expanding trade and business opportunities, and the recently concluded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and New Zealand. Air New Zealand and Air India strengthened their partnership in March 2025 through a memorandum of understanding that expanded their codeshare agreement to 16 routes, according to Outlook Traveller.
At present, travellers from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai can access Air New Zealand services through connecting flights via hubs such as Singapore, Sydney and Melbourne. The existing arrangement is helping both airlines assess market demand and evaluate the feasibility of introducing a direct service, as reported by Outlook Traveller.
If approved, Auckland is expected to be the New Zealand gateway, while either Delhi or Mumbai could become the Indian destination. A direct Auckland–Delhi flight would cover around 12,500 kilometres and take approximately 15 to 16 hours, making it one of the longest commercial flights in the world.
According to a report by Outlook Traveller, the proposal is further supported by increasing tourism interest, stronger educational links and growing people-to-people connections between the two countries. Tourism New Zealand estimates that nearly 18 million people in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru are considering New Zealand as a travel destination.
Air New Zealand chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar said the airline is actively exploring ways to improve connectivity between the two nations.
"We are thinking about how to better connect the two countries... we are working closely with Singapore Airlines and Air India around servicing and connecting with India," Ravishankar told PTI.