Prime Highlights

• Air New Zealand and SIA will expand services for the 2026 winter season.
• The alliance will increase seat capacity by 17%.

Key Facts

• More than 490,000 seats will be available during the season.
• SIA will deploy the Airbus A380 on Auckland routes.

Background

Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines (SIA) will expand their joint network services during the 2026 Northern Winter season to meet rising travel demand between New Zealand, Singapore and major international markets across Asia, India and Europe.

The expanded schedule will increase overall seat capacity between Singapore and New Zealand by 17 per cent from late October 2026. The alliance will add around 72,000 seats, taking the total seasonal seat count to more than 490,000.

As part of the expansion, Air New Zealand will introduce three weekly flights between Singapore and Christchurch using Boeing 787 aircraft. Combined with Singapore Airlines’ existing Christchurch operations, the two carriers will operate up to 15 weekly services on the route between November 2026 and February 2027.

Air New Zealand will also add four weekly Auckland services using Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft. Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines will reduce its Auckland schedule from three daily flights to two daily services but will deploy the larger Airbus A380 aircraft on selected routes instead of the Boeing 777-300ER.

The Airbus A380 offers 471 seats across four cabin classes, including Suites, Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class. The aircraft deployment aims to improve passenger comfort while supporting growing demand across the joint network.

Air New Zealand Chief Operations and Alliances Officer Michael Williams stated that the expansion reflects the strength of the long-term partnership between the two airlines and would provide travellers with more flexible travel options and stronger global connectivity through Singapore.

Singapore Airlines Senior Vice President Marketing Planning Dai Haoyu stated that the increased capacity and A380 deployment underline the airline’s commitment to the New Zealand market and growing international travel demand.

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