Air New Zealand will return to the non-stop Singapore – Christchurch route from late October 2026, following a six-and-a-half-year absence from its direct services that were suspended in February 2020, and adding another option alongside Singapore Airlines flights.

The seasonal operation will run through to 26th March 2027, using Boeing 787-9 aircraft fitted with the airline’s all-new cabin products in Business Premier, Premium Economy and Economy Class.

Christchurch – Singapore is one of three new international widebody routes Air New Zealand is launching from its South Island hub under a long-term partnership with Christchurch Airport, as part of today’s announcement.

The carrier will also relaunch Christchurch – Tokyo Narita from 28th November 2026 (its first time on the route since 2015) and Christchurch – Perth from 30th November 2026 (last flown in 2019).

Flights are on sale now, including for the reinstated Singapore route, subject to the usual regulatory approvals.

The schedule

Air New Zealand’s Boeing 787-9 will operate three times weekly, departing Singapore on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with a same-day afternoon arrival into Christchurch.

Singapore Christchurch
28 Oct 2026 – 26 Mar 2027

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	NZ67 787-9
SIN 00:40		CHC 15:35
Duration: 09:55

The return service operates on a slightly different pattern, leaving Christchurch on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays in the early evening and landing back at Changi just before 11pm.

Christchurch Singapore
28 Oct 2026 – 26 Mar 2027

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	NZ66 787-9
CHC 17:20		SIN 22:55
Duration: 10:35

Flight times on this route are quite lengthy at 9 hours 55 minutes southbound and 10 hours 35 minutes northbound, the latter reflecting the prevailing winds.

Air New Zealand last served Singapore – Christchurch in February 2020, when it had offered a seasonal peak-season frequency of five times weekly on the Boeing 787-9 before the COVID-19 collapse of long-haul travel forced suspension.

The reinstatement has been enabled by the return to service of Air New Zealand’s grounded Boeing 787 fleet, held back by the well-documented Rolls-Royce engine maintenance issues, together with new Boeing 787-9s entering the fleet.

All-new 787-9 cabins

Air New Zealand is loading its latest Boeing 787-9 configuration on these reinstated Singapore – Christchurch flights, fitted with:

• 26 seats in Business Premier (1-2-1 layout)
• 33 seats in Premium Economy (2-3-2 layout)
• 213 seats in Economy Class (3-3-3 layout)

These aircraft have the carrier’s latest cabin products, which will make their Singapore debut on these new services, since ANZ’s Boeing 777-300ERs that ply the Auckland route have yet to receive them.

Business Premier comprises 26 seats in a 1-2-1 herringbone layout. The underlying hardware is Safran’s new Visa platform, for which Air New Zealand was the launch customer. Seats are 20.5 inches wide and convert to a 79-inch (6ft 7in) flat bed, with a 24-inch 4K screen, Bluetooth pairing, wireless charging, and a 60W USB-C port.

Unfortunately there is no privacy door, only a small retractable privacy screen.

Four first-row seats are sold as Business Premier Luxe, and here sliding privacy doors are included, plus an ottoman large enough to seat a dining companion, though a hefty surcharge is payable – an extra S$680 one-way on the Singapore – Christchurch sector.

Premium Economy has 33 ZIM PC-02 seats in a 2-3-2 layout. Seats measure 19 inches across with 41 inches of pitch, and use a fixed-shell design, meaning instead of reclining backwards the seat pan slides forwards, so that the passenger behind isn’t intruded upon during meals or working. 15.6-inch HD IFE screens are fitted, with Bluetooth pairing.

Economy Class uses 213 HAECO Vector 2 slimline seats in 3-3-3 at 31 inches of pitch, with 13.3-inch screens. The first three rows are sold as Stretch with 35 inches of pitch, and selected rows are still configured as Skycouch, allowing a row of three seats to be converted into a lie-flat surface using flip-up footrests.

You can see the seat map for this new layout at the aeroLOPA site.

KrisFlyer redemptions

Air New Zealand is a Star Alliance member, so KrisFlyer members can redeem miles for Singapore–Christchurch flights at the Star Alliance partner award rate.

KrisFlyer Saver Redemption Rates SIN to/from CHC (one-way)
		Saver	Advantage
Economy	37,000	29,000	60,500
Business	90,000	72,000	103,500

Be warned that Air New Zealand has not historically been generous with Star Alliance partner award space on this route, particularly in Business Class, so flexibility on dates will definitely help.

SIA also increasing Christchurch

Air New Zealand’s return is a complement to, rather than competition for, Singapore Airlines’ own Christchurch services. The two carriers operate a joint venture on New Zealand routes, allowing them to coordinate schedules, pricing and sales.

Both carriers codeshare on each other’s flights, allowing Air New Zealand to expand its reach into Southeast Asia, India, and Europe via Singapore, while giving Singapore Airlines customers access to Air New Zealand’s domestic network.

For the northern winter 2026/27 season, Singapore Airlines will serve Christchurch 10 times weekly, rising to 12 times weekly at peak, up from seven times weekly and 11 times weekly respectively a year earlier.

Add in Air New Zealand’s new three times weekly seasonal contribution and total non-stop capacity on the route hits as many as 15 times weekly at peak, a significant increase over the northern winter 2025/26 season.

The return of Air New Zealand to the Singapore – Christchurch route is welcome news for South Island-bound travellers who have been waiting for a non-stop alternative to Singapore Airlines.

Frequency is modest at three times weekly, and for now it’s just a seasonal addition, but it will also see a debut for the Star Alliance carrier’s all-new Boeing 787-9 cabins, which offer a notable upgrade over the former seats.

For those collecting KrisFlyer miles, the Star Alliance partner award route remains a useful option, though space is always hard to find on Air New Zealand, especially in Business Class.

Nonetheless with combined Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand frequencies on the Christchurch route pushing 15 times weekly at peak under the joint venture, capacity to and from the South Island has rarely looked healthier.

(Cover Photo: Air New Zealand)