NZ-South Africa air services agreement expanded

New Zealand and South Africa have expanded their air services agreement, which will allow airlines to operate daily services via Australia.

“The new arrangements will provide a real boost for business, tourism and people-to-people links,” said New Zealand’s Associate Minister of Transport Nathan Guy. “This will allow the airlines of each country to pick up and drop off passengers and freight in Australia, and to operate daily flights between our two countries – up from three flights per week.”

The new agreement was negotiated in June 2008 and updates aspects of the New Zealand-South Africa Air Services Agreement negotiated in 1997.

The new arrangements could allow Air New Zealand or South African Airways – which are both Star Alliance carriers – to either launch their own services or codeshare on each others’ services. Any direct services are likely to be operated through Australia, and could have an effect on the market dynamics on the Australia-South Africa market.

An analysis of the Australia-South Africa market is featured in the November issue of Australian Aviation