India and New Zealand ink deal for direct flights

India and New Zealand on Sunday signed a deal that opens the door for direct flights between the two countries that could boost tourism and trade sectors. The signing ceremony of the bilateral air services agreement was witnessed by visiting President Pranab Mukherjee and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.

The air services agreement should also boost tourism and trade between New Zealand and world’s second most populated nation, New Zealand Transport Minister Simon Bridges said. Bridges signed the deal with Sanjeev Balyan, India’s Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmer Welfare. Air New Zealand, Air India and Singapore Airlines are among the operators which have the potential to run such a direct service, New Zealand Herald reported.

Bridges said that New Zealand airlines now have the opportunity to code-share to seven Indian cities - Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi.