Singapore Airlines is eyeing an expansion of its New Zealand operations, increasing its flights to its two Kiwi destinations and hiring more local staff. After dealing with closed borders and some very lightly loaded planes, Singapore Airlines is now keen to reboot its New Zealand operations and get back to business.

Singapore Airlines welcomes New Zealand border reopening

Singapore Airlines presently operates 10 Airbus A350-900 return services a week between Singapore and Auckland and four A350-900 return services each week between Singapore and Christchurch. Speaking on New Zealand radio on Tuesday, Public Affairs Regional Manager for Singapore Airlines, Karl Schubert, said the airline has flown to New Zealand continuously for 46 years and as the country lowers the border boom gate, is now looking to increase its operations there.

"It's great news the border is reopening," said Mr Schubert. "It was never in doubt that we were going to ramp up our operations."

The Singapore Airlines spokesperson later told Simple Flying capacity increases into New Zealand would largely depend on how passenger demand plays out, saying the airline remains flexible in its approach to both frequencies and aircraft sizes. Singapore Airlines doesn't currently fly its flagship Airbus A380-800 into New Zealand, and while there are no concrete plans to do so, it's a case of never say never.

A comfortable middle ground could see the Boeing 777-300 fly to New Zealand at some point in the future. While around the same size as the A350-900 in terms of seats, the Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300 would see Singapore's first class product in the Kiwi market.

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Image: gcmap.com

Singapore Airlines adjusts to different reopening paces in different places

Singapore Airlines was one of the relatively few airlines that stayed the course in New Zealand throughout the pandemic, operating over 1,700 passenger flights during the period and home 37,000 New Zealanders. From May 2, fully vaccinated travelers from 60 countries on New Zealand's visa waiver list, can come and go freely for the first time since March 2020. That reopening date is allowing Singapore Airlines (and other airlines) to rethink their New Zealand flights.

Mr Schubert was upbeat about Singapore Airlines' future in New Zealand and elsewhere, saying air travel in Europe almost looked like it did in 2019 while the US is almost the same.

"Every part of the world is at a different place," said Mr Schubert when asked how Singapore Airlines was going. "China is still closed, parts of North Asia are still to open. Everyone is taking little steps towards what they are comfortable with, and it's great to see New Zealand getting back to being reconnected.

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Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying.

A tight labor market & rising fuel prices are a challenge for Singapore Airlines

While Singapore Airlines looks to step up its operations in New Zealand this year, their spokesperson admits rising fuel prices pose challenges, but says fuel prices in the aviation industry have always peaked and troughed.

"There's no doubt that the increased upward pressure on fuel is going to be reflected on the ticket price, but we are looking to be as competitive as possible in that marketplace."

Mr Schubert didn't provide any numbers on how many extra people Singapore Airlines was looking to hire in New Zealand. But he acknowledged the tight labor market. Nonetheless, he suggests Kiwis could jump at the chance to work for the airline.

"It's a struggle everywhere," Karl Schubert said about labor shortages. "After two years of hibernation across the entire industry, it's going to be tough to convince people to come back, but I tell you, there's no other industry I'd rather be working in. The future is bright, and it's exciting in terms of what lies ahead for us, and this is a good opportunity for those who are keen to come and join the aviation industry."