New Delhi (Agency): In a major development in civil aviation, the Government of India and the Government of New Zealand have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost collaboration in the sector. The MoU aims to facilitate the scheduling of new flight routes, code share services, traffic rights, and capacity entitlement.
The agreement was signed by Shri Rajiv Bansal, the Secretary of India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, and HE Mr. David Pine, the New Zealand High Commissioner. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, India’s Minister for Civil Aviation, and Mr. Damien O’Connor, New Zealand’s Minister for various portfolios including Trade and Export Growth.
This MoU comes as a follow-up to the Air Services Agreement signed between the two nations in Auckland on May 1, 2016. It aims to further strengthen the existing air service arrangements and boost bilateral ties in civil aviation.
According to the MoU, airlines from New Zealand can operate an unlimited number of services using any type of aircraft to six major cities in India. These cities include New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. “Today is an important day for Civil Aviation air services between India and New Zealand,” said Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia. “The open sky policy has been put in place. The point of calls has been increased. We have also increased intermediate points.”
On the other side, Indian airlines are granted the liberty to operate any number of services to Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, as well as three more locations in New Zealand that the Indian government will name later.
Moreover, the designated airlines of both countries are permitted to operate any number of all-cargo services with certain traffic rights. These services can be to and from any locations in each other’s territories, regardless of the points specified in the Route Schedule. This flexibility allows for more dynamic and adaptable air service operations between India and New Zealand.
The MoU is seen as a pivotal step in strengthening the air connectivity between the two countries, which is vital for enhancing trade, tourism, and cultural exchange. As both nations look to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, stronger air links can play a crucial role in economic revival.