AIA
08/08/2014 10:10
GENERAL
REL: 1010 HRS Auckland International Airport Limited
GENERAL: AIA: AIAL New alliance welcomed
New alliance welcomed, bringing at least 100,000 extra seats on Singapore to
Auckland route
Auckland Airport, Tourism New Zealand and Auckland Tourism Events and
Economic Development have welcomed the announcement that a strategic alliance
between Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines has received regulatory
approval.
Charles Spillane, Auckland Airport's acting general manager aeronautical
commercial, says he supports the announcement from the Minister of Transport,
the Hon Gerry Brownlee, as the new alliance will bring substantial capacity
growth and improved connectivity.
"This alliance between Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines demonstrates
the commitment that both airlines have to growing connections between
Singapore and New Zealand and we congratulate them on this," says Mr
Spillane.
Auckland Airport estimates that the total additional capacity arising from
the alliance on the Auckland-Singapore route to be at least 100,000 seats in
the first year. This is calculated on the basis of Air New Zealand taking
over the existing five-flight per week service currently operated by
Singapore Airlines on the Auckland-Singapore route and replacing it with a
daily service, as well as Singapore Airlines deploying an Airbus A380 on its
remaining daily service between Auckland and Singapore on a seasonal basis.
"Singapore is a critical hub airport, providing New Zealand with access to
South East Asia and in particular key emerging markets such as India and
Indonesia. This new alliance will help to support the impressive growth we
have already seen from these markets," continues Mr Spillane.
"Passenger arrivals from Singapore to New Zealand have grown by 19 per cent
in the past 12 months. Also in the past year, visitor arrivals from India
have increased by 13 per cent and Indonesian arrivals have increased by 17
per cent. The total growth in passenger arrivals from South East Asia has
likewise been strong, with an 18 per cent increase over the past 12 months."
Tourism New Zealand's chief executive, Kevin Bowler, said the organisation
welcomes any agreement that results in increased capacity to New Zealand from
key visitor markets.
"The Auckland-Singapore route provides a vital connection into South East
Asia, India and the wider Asia region, as well as extending on to Europe
which supports our work to target visitors from these regions and grow their
arrivals to New Zealand."
Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development's manager tourism, Jason
Hill, says the increased capacity on the network is often a catalyst to grow
demand, and he welcomes today's announcement and looks forward to the growth
in arrivals that this alliance will bring for Auckland.
"We see this new alliance between Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines as
a great opportunity to grow our existing partnership with Auckland Airport
and Tourism New Zealand to promote Auckland as a visitor destination and a
major gateway to New Zealand", says Mr Hill.
The alliance will see Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines coordinating
operations on the Auckland-Singapore and Christchurch-Singapore services,
delivering real benefits to New Zealand by improving our connectivity to the
world.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Katie Moore
+64 9 255 9061
+64 27 473 1989
[email protected]
End CA:00253632 For:AIA Type:GENERAL Time:2014-08-08 10:10:36
