On the sidelines of the Kiwi Link 2024 event in Mumbai, TTJ met with Imogen Thornton, Head of South and Southeast Asia at Air New Zealand. Imogen shared insights on Air New Zealand’s plans to expand in the competitive aviation market, enhance passenger experience, and strengthen partnerships in India’s travel market.
– Nehali Jain
Known for its warm Kiwi hospitality, Air New Zealand has direct flights to major cities across Australia, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the US. Together with Singapore Airlines, as alliance partners, the airlines operate up to four flights a day from Singapore to Auckland and a daily flight from Singapore to Christchurch. By leveraging strong relationships with alliance partners, Air New Zealand offers customers more choices and convenience, enabling connections to hundreds of additional destinations.
Strengthening Indian Connections
Participating in the Kiwi Link, Tourism New Zealand’s flagship trade event, was of utmost importance to Air New Zealand, as the event made a triumphant return in India this year after a five-year hiatus. “We love the opportunity to participate at Kiwi Link and meet many Indian agents. We truly value the chance to discuss with them how seamless the connection to New Zealand can be and are continually exploring various avenues for agents and the travel industry in India to experience all that New Zealand has to offer,” conveys Imogen.
She also discussed the recent TRENZ conference in Wellington, New Zealand, which included participation from 23 Indian travel agencies. “Meeting the Indian agents at the conference was fantastic. I was impressed by their deep knowledge of New Zealand and their enthusiasm for discussing the country’s various experiences. Many agents also joined pre- and post-familiarisation trips to explore more destinations, both in the North and South Island.” Imogen noted. She highlighted how these experiences enhance the agents’ understanding, allowing them to effectively promote New Zealand within the Indian market and create mutual benefits.
In-Focus: South and Southeast Asia
While Air New Zealand has no new route announcements at this time, Imogen emphasizes the significance of South and Southeast Asia. The airline is committed to deeply understanding its customers and tailoring its offerings to effectively cater to each market within the region. The Indian market, in particular, holds great importance for Air New Zealand, as evidenced by strong travel volumes and diverse purposes, ranging from visiting friends and relatives (VFR) to leisure and business travel.
Currently, Air New Zealand leverages its strong partnership with Singapore Airlines to efficiently connect travellers between New Zealand and India. “We are extremely proud of our partnership and the seamless flight connections we offer through Singapore Airlines, which connects travellers from eight ports across India. As alliance partners, we have up to five flights a day from Singapore to New Zealand that Indian travellers can connect to; either Auckland or Christchurch. Furthermore, Air New Zealand’s extensive domestic network covers 20 destinations, ensuring a truly seamless travel experience to any part of the country,” informs Imogen.
The focus also remains on enhancing existing routes, including increasing capacity on the Auckland-Singapore route. Imogen shares, “We are pleased to announce the expansion of our Auckland to Singapore service with additional capacity. From November through March next year, we will offer an extra 20,000 seats on this route. This expansion provides more options for travellers connecting from India. Notably, 11,000 of these seats will be in Premium Economy and Business Class, offering Indian travellers the opportunity to experience luxurious travel in style.”
The Future with the Dreamliner
The Dreamliner has been instrumental in expanding Air New Zealand’s network, being the ideal aircraft for ultra-long-haul travel. Looking ahead, Air New Zealand is continuing its investment in the Dreamliner, with upgrades to the current fleet and eight new Dreamliners on order. Imogen shares, “We’re excited about the arrival of our first new 787 in 2025, designed for ultra-long-haul flights. It will likely debut on our Auckland-New York route, coinciding with the rollout of refreshed onboard products. We promise a new experience while maintaining our renowned service and showcasing New Zealand’s exceptional food and wine.”
