Air NZ and Singapore Airlines Win Final Approval for Alliance

The New Zealand Minister of Transport has approved Air New Zealand’s proposed alliance with Singapore Airlines.

This clearance represents the New Zealand regulatory approval needed for Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand to proceed in creating the alliance, which the two carriers announced on January 16.

Air New Zealand’s first Boeing 787-9 is photographed on July 9, 2014 docked at Boeing’s Widebody Delivery Center at its huge facility in Everett, Washington. At 7:00 a.m. the following morning the aircraft took off on its 14-hour non-stop delivery flight to Auckland

The Competition Commission of Singapore had already previously given its approval for the proposed alliance between the two Star Alliance member carriers.

According to SIA, its alliance with Air New Zealand will lead to increased service frequency between Singapore and New Zealand and provide other consumer benefits, such as improved connections through reciprocal codeshare ties.

Singapore Airlines has a total of 19 Airbus A380 superjumbos in service, plus orders for six more

As part of the alliance agreement, Air New Zealand will operate the Auckland-Singapore route again and Singapore Airlines will operate the Airbus A380, the world’s largest production passenger aircraft, to New Zealand for the first time.

The Star Alliance partner airlines say they will announce in the near future the launch dates for alliance services.