India New Zealand sign an agreement to boost cooperation in civil aviation

India and New Zealand  on 29 August 2023 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi  to boost cooperation in civil aviation. This agreement will include areas such as establishment of  fresh flight routes,  codeshare services, traffic rights and capacity entitlement.

The MoU was signed by Rajiv Bansal, Secretary at the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and David Pine, High Commissioner of New Zealand. The agreement was signed in the presence of the Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia and New Zealand’s   Minister overseeing Trade and Export Growth, Agriculture, Biosecurity, Land Information, and Rural Communities Damien O’Connor.

As per the MoU, New Zealand's designated airline(s) can operate unrestricted flights using any aircraft type, holding third and fourth freedom traffic rights to/from six Indian cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.

Indian airlines can operate unlimited flights using any aircraft type, enjoying third and fourth freedom traffic rights to/from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and three other points in New Zealand (to be chosen by the Government of India).

Both parties' airlines can operate unlimited all-cargo flights using any aircraft, enjoying third, fourth, and fifth freedom traffic rights. These rights apply to all points in each other's territory, via any intermediate points, and to any beyond points, irrespective of the Route Schedule.

New Zealand 

It is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean . It is the largest country in Polynesia.

It gained  full independence from the United Kingdom in 1947. 

Head of State :  The British monarch King Charles III  is the formal head of state and is represented by a governor-general appointed by the monarch (on the recommendation of the New Zealand government).

Prime Minister : Chris Hipkins 

Capital : Wellington 

Currency : New Zealand Dollar