Air New Zealand and Air Chathams interline partnership takes off strengthening regional connectivity
From today, customers can book a single domestic ticket that combines Air Chathams and Air New Zealand services for travel from Tuesday, 24 March 2026, complete with through check-in for baggage. That means smoother connections for journeys such as Whakatāne to Queenstown or Christchurch to Whakatāne – all in one booking.
Air New Zealand Chief Transformation and Alliances Officer Michael Williams says the partnership marks the beginning of a new chapter for domestic aviation.
"Whakatāne is the heart of the Eastern Bay of Plenty and strong air links are vital for keeping regional communities connected and thriving. Regional connectivity is also a key driver of New Zealand's economy, so partnerships like this help strengthen those links," says Williams.
"It takes collaboration between airlines, local government, airports and communities to keep New Zealand moving. This is just the beginning. We expect to build more partnerships over time as we look for smarter, more collaborative ways to support connectivity across Aotearoa."
Air Chathams CEO Duane Emeny says the partnership reflects Air Chathams' continued commitment to serving regional Aotearoa.
"For us, the regions are at the heart of what we do," he says.
"We've been proudly connecting communities for more than three decades, and this partnership strengthens that commitment. By teaming up with Air New Zealand, we can offer our Whakatāne customers even better access to the rest of the country, while ensuring the region is well connected for work, travel and everyday life."
Whakatāne District Council Mayor Nándor Tánczos says the agreement is a welcome step forward for a region with so much to offer.
"Whakatāne is a place of real warmth, authentic culture and natural beauty, and we're excited to make it easier for more visitors to experience that," he says.
"At the same time, stronger air links mean our own community can travel more easily for business, education, health and to connect with whānau. This partnership is a positive shift for the district, and we're pleased to see Air New Zealand and Air Chathams working together to achieve the benefits the interline arrangement will unlock."
With the partnership now underway, both airlines will focus on delivering a smooth experience for Whakatāne travellers from day one while laying the groundwork for future regional opportunities.
ENDS
Issued by Air New Zealand Communications
Email: media@airnz.co.nz │ Phone: +64 21 747 320
About Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand's story started in 1940, first taking to the skies between Auckland and Sydney on a flying boat - a Short S30. Known for its warm Kiwi hospitality, today, the airline has operating aircraft ranging from Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus A320s to ATRs and Q300s, offering customers comfort in the latest most efficient jets and turboprops. It's a modern fuel-efficient fleet with an average age of 9.9 years. Air New Zealand's global network of passenger and cargo services centres around New Zealand. In 2024, the airline flew more than 16 million passengers. Air New Zealand was named 2025 World's Safest Airline by the Australian rating service AirlineRatings.com, highlighting the airline's laser-focus on safety.
Air New Zealand has a well-connected domestic business, connecting customers and cargo to 20 different regions around New Zealand. Internationally, the airline has direct flights to major cities across Australia, the Pacific Islands, Asia and North America, and through its strong relationships with alliance partners, offers customers more choice and convenience to connect further afield to hundreds of destinations. Air New Zealand has a particular focus on sustainability and its Sustainability Framework helps guide the airline's efforts in tackling some of New Zealand's and the world's most complex challenges. Airpoints, Air New Zealand's loyalty programme, is seen as the most valuable loyalty programme in New Zealand with more than 4 million members. It allows members to earn Airpoints Dollars™ and Status Points for VIP benefits in the air and on the ground. Air New Zealand aircraft are proudly identified by its distinct tail livery of the Mangōpare, the Māori symbol of the hammerhead shark which represents strength, tenacity, and resilience.
About Star Alliance
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, based on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition and seamless service. Since inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a focus on improving customer experience across the Alliance journey.
The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United.
Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 16,000 daily flights to almost 1,200 airports in 186 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partners Juneyao Airlines and THAI Smile Airways.
For more information about Air New Zealand visit www.airnewzealand.com and for more information about Star Alliance visit www.staralliance.com