World class concert at 30,000 feet: Air New Zealand's SYNTHONY in the Sky soars
The sold out experience took off on Thursday 4 December, bringing together Kiwi artistry, a flight full of fans, and a line up of world class performers for a high altitude celebration of music, creativity and connection.
The partnership with Duco Events' SYNTHONY builds on a shared commitment to showcasing the best of New Zealand creativity on the world stage. What began as an idea on local stages has since grown into a global phenomenon, and this flight celebrated that journey by bringing Kiwi talent and fans together for a truly unique moment.
A full concert in the clouds
The inflight line up delivered a full SYNTHONY set in the sky, complete with the kind of energy usually reserved for festival grounds. Guests were treated to performances from Shapeshifter's P Digsss, electronic icon DJ Dick Johnson, and powerhouse vocalist Emily Williams.
A special surprise saw instrumentalists Lewis McCallum and Matthew Ottignon appear with sax, flute and clarinet, filling the cabin the live orchestra moments that make SYNTHONY so unique.
The onboard set up was made possible through extensive testing and the use of transmission technology that is a world first for inflight entertainment of this kind.
A proud moment for the partnership
Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Digital Officer Jeremy O'Brien says the experience was everything the airline hoped for and more.
"This flight showcased the power of connection. It brought together Kiwi artistry, a fiercely proud homegrown concept, and an audience who were ready for something unforgettable. The flight experience sold out in just six hours, showing how much our customers value these once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
"We are proud to support SYNTHONY as it takes Aotearoa's creativity to the world, and the flight's energy showed just how strongly people respond when travel offers something truly new."
Duco Events CEO Craig Cotton says the flight was a highlight for the SYNTHONY experience.
"Seeing SYNTHONY take flight, literally, was a defining moment for our journey. Air New Zealand didn't just transport our audience, they elevated the entire experience. This partnership proves what's possible when two brands back creativity, innovation, and Kiwi talent."
A full circle moment at 30,000 feet
SYNTHONY co-founder and Air New Zealand pilot Captain David Elmsly says seeing the concept take off in this way was extraordinary.
"When we first created SYNTHONY, I never imagined we'd one day bring it into the air. To see it come alive mid flight, with customers dancing, smiling and soaking up every moment, was incredibly special. It's a true full circle moment for me and a celebration of what can happen when creativity and aviation come together."
The celebration did not end at the border, with customers heading straight into an unforgettable evening at SYNTHONY at the Sydney Opera House forecourt.
It marked a fitting finale to a one-off experience that brought people together through music, creativity and connection both in the air and on the ground.
Click here for photos and videos from the flight
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