Overview
- Air New Zealand confirmed on Wednesday, May 20 that it will launch non‑stop services from Christchurch to Singapore, Tokyo Narita and Perth and has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Christchurch Airport to align long‑term planning.
- The Singapore–Christchurch route goes on sale now and starts 28 October with three weekly flights on retrofitted Boeing 787 Dreamliners, offering about 34,000 additional seats over the southern summer season.
- Christchurch–Narita is scheduled to begin on 28 November and Christchurch–Perth on 30 November, with the new services to operate using the airline’s upgraded 787 fleet.
- Air New Zealand says the expansion is possible because many 787s have returned to service after a global engine maintenance issue and new 787s have been delivered, and the aircraft carry a refreshed long‑haul cabin product.
- Officials say the routes aim to boost South Island tourism and exports by cutting the need for Auckland transfers and adding direct entry points, and a related conditional sale of Airwork’s freight business to ASL Airlines Australia remains subject to due diligence and approvals.