Minister for Justice Andrew Little has affirmed that this government is keen to make progress on direct flights between New Zealand and India.
Mr Little was speaking at the fifth India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) annual summit in Auckland on Friday, September 28.
Joining the overwhelming chorus at the summit for direct flights between NZ-India, Mr Little first began with some seeming disappointment in the delay in start of direct flights when he noted, “An Air Services Agreement (ASA) was signed between the two countries in 2016 to pave the way for airlines to talk about starting direct flights.”
“But regrettably there has not been much progress in that direction,” Mr Little said exasperatedly, only to be followed with an affirmation that this government is committed to change.
“We do need to make progress, and this government is keen to see progress being made in the area of establishing direct flights between both the countries,” Mr Little affirmed.
Demonstrating a deeper understanding and possibly a willingness, to act assiduously towards facilitating direct flight between the two countries, Mr Little further said, “Delhi is the principal port we would be looking to have a direct flight.”
Indeed, Mr Little’s statement was above and beyond all other voices which kept on emerging in the day-long annual INZBC summit for the direct flight between two countries.
Almost every speaker spoke or reflected upon, the need for a direct flight to boost the bilateral trade, tourism and people to people relations, between the two countries.
Leading the call for direct flights was the High Commissioner of India, Sanjiv Kohli, who opened the house with a light-hearted comment, “We have almost all players who can potentially deliver direct flights between the two countries. Please don’t let them go without getting a commitment to direct flights.”
Expectedly the room was burst into laughter, which reflected upon the long-felt expectations of a direct flight between the two countries.
On a serious note, Mr Kohli acknowledged the presence of Ministers in government, political leaders from all major parties, and especially the business leaders from both the countries at the summit.
“More than us, the public servants and political leaders the script of the future of the relationship between both the countries will be written by you – the business leaders.
“The people who can work together to create wealth, to create jobs, with partnerships and bring benefit to people of both countries,” Mr Kohli said.
A battery of experts and influential leaders from the aviation industry, including key airlines operating in both the markets and beyond, eyeing to tap the opportunities offered by an increasing synergy between the two markets were present in the summit with their respective elevator-pitch.
Meanwhile, other presenters were emphatic and unanimous in their opinion that strengthening better air links – especially direct flights – between the two countries was key to not only boosting tourism numbers but also growing the education sector, trade and investment exponentially.
Representatives of major airlines like Jet Airways and Air Asia said they would work determinedly toward a solution, seen by many as long overdue.
Summit upbeat on growth potential
Meanwhile, the INZBC summit also emphasized upon collaborating together with India’s growth story, especially in the aviation sector.
India is the fastest growing aviation market and with 1000 passenger aircraft joining the fleet in the next few years, the demand for pilots is expected to skyrocket. New Zealand, which has earned a solid reputation in aviation-related training, has great potential to help the Indian aviation sector meet this growing demand.
Growth in Indian tourist numbers into New Zealand has been encouraging over the past few years but the potential was great, said Suresh Nair, Air Asia’s India-based General Manager.
Expressing delight on the success and the easily palpable synergy among different stakeholders present in the summit, INZBC Treasurer Bhav Dhillon said the thirty-year-old council has been hosting sector-focused summits that deliver value and practical takeaways to participants from both countries.