New Zealand approves new air pacts with 10 countries

New Zealand has expanded its network of air services with new agreements and arrangements with 10 other countries, Transport Minister Simon Bridges said Monday.

The new agreements and arrangements, approved by the government Monday included new air services agreements with Israel, Mauritius, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama and Portugal.

The other arrangements were a negotiation with Turkey to permit airlines from each country to commence services using their own aircraft, an amendment to New Zealand's 1967 Air Transport Agreement with France to introduce new route opportunities for New Zealand and New Caledonia airlines, and the negotiation of a code-share arrangement with The Bahamas.

"Growing competition and increasing the number of available seats can be expected to drive down prices and give prospective visitors to New Zealand more choices," Bridges said in a statement.

More flights also allowed for more high-value freight connections, and increasing regional connections to international flights creates more opportunities for provincial exporters.

"Most of the major airlines in the world are now able to operate services to New Zealand without restriction. More than 70 air services agreements are in place with 17 new air routes announced in the past year," he said.

"This is an unprecedented flourishing of air services in terms of services starting, connecting us to more and more of the world." Endit