From skies to stage: Introducing Air New Zealand's SYNTHONY IN THE SKY
The airline is introducing SYNTHONY in the Sky – a first-of-its-kind, one-off inflight celebration, bringing the homegrown SYNTHONY experience, a collision of electronic dance music and classical orchestra, to 30,000 feet.
On Thursday 4 December, Air New Zealand will turn the cabin of Flight NZ1331 from Auckland to Sydney into a high-altitude concert venue. SYNTHONY in the Sky will blend travel and music in a completely new way, with tickets on sale from midday today.
Headlining the live experience is Shapeshifter (DJ set), one of Aotearoa's most iconic electronic acts. They'll be joined inflight by DJ Dick Johnson as well as special guests from SYNTHONY and a few surprises, delivering a full sensory experience for guests cruising across the Tasman.
Every ticket on the flight includes a Golden Circle pass to SYNTHONY at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt on Friday 5 December, ensuring the party doesn't end when the wheels hit the runway.
Air New Zealand Chief Commercial Officer Jeremy O'Brien says the airline is taking one of New Zealand's most celebrated live music success stories to new heights – literally.
"We're not just flying you across the Tasman. We're flying you straight into the heart of a one-of-a-kind music experience offering a completely unique onboard moment – an immersive, high-energy celebration at altitude.
"We love creating moments our customers will talk about long after they land, and SYNTHONY in the Sky is exactly that – an unforgettable, one-off experience."
Aviation meets orchestration with New Zealand pilot Captain David Elmsly – who is an original founder of SYNTHONY and an Air New Zealand pilot of more than 20 years.
"Bringing SYNTHONY to life in the air is something I never imagined when we first started out – and now I get to see it take off in a whole new way. It's a surreal, full-circle moment that combines two of my passions, and I can't wait to see it come to life on board," says Captain Elmsly.
Flight Details
- Flight Number: NZ1331
- Departure: Auckland, 4.20pm, Thursday 4 December 2025
- Destination: Sydney
- Fare: $549 NZD one-way
- Inclusions: Live inflight performance + Golden Circle ticket to SYNTHONY No.5 at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt, 5 December
Tickets are on sale from midday today. For more details on how to book, head to: www.airnewzealand.co.nz/synthony
Seats are strictly limited. This is a one-off flight with no encores
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