JAKARTA - Air New Zealand will launch a non-stop Christchurch-Singapore route on 28 October 2026, giving the South Island a direct link into one of Asia-Pacific’s main aviation hubs, the airline said in a May 20 release.
Flights went on sale on the publication date, with services scheduled to begin from late October, subject to regulatory approval.
Air New Zealand said it would also begin Christchurch-Tokyo Narita flights on November 28 and Christchurch-Perth flights on November 30. The airline linked the expansion to Boeing 787 aircraft returning to service after global engine maintenance issues and new 787 aircraft entering its fleet.
The company’s chief Nikhil Ravishankar said, “The three new routes are a deliberate step to reconnect Christchurch directly to major global hubs in Asia, strengthen links into Australia, and change how the South Island connects to the world, including where visitors arrive and how they move through the country.”
Air New Zealand and Christchurch Airport also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to coordinate future route planning. Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Justin Watson said the deal and the new Singapore, Tokyo and Perth services give the city a stronger platform to pitch itself as a long-haul entry point for the South Island, reducing reliance on Auckland connections.
In an April 13 update, the Christchurch Airport said 3.1 million passengers used the airport between November 2025 and March 2026, including 287,000 international visitors. It said international visitors rose 22 percent from the previous summer and contributed NZ$861 million to the South Island economy.
The airport also said Singapore visitor numbers rose 18 percent year on year during the preliminary November 2025 to mid-March 2026 period, while exports from departing aircraft grew strongly into Asian markets, including China and Hong Kong.
Stats NZ said overseas visitor arrivals reached 3.63 million in the March 2026 year, up 305,000 from the March 2025 year, showing continued recovery in inbound travel.
