Air New Zealand taps leading India-based teams to drive digital innovation
These partnerships mark a step in Air New Zealand's journey to position itself as a testbed for cutting-edge digital solutions that go beyond the airline itself and benefit the broader aviation and tourism industry.
Air New Zealand Chief Digital Officer Nikhil Ravishankar says the airline is working collaboratively with these partners to develop forward-thinking solutions that drive efficiency, enhance customer experience, and work to reshape the future of travel.
"India has long invested in education and digital innovation, and we're now seeing these investments pay dividends for the global technology sector. We identified an opportunity for Air New Zealand to benefit from that growth and are working closely with TCS, IBS Software, TSI, Cognizant, and Accenture teams in India on a number of digital projects that will transform outcomes for our customers.
"On top of this, there is a strong cultural alignment between India and New Zealand. Both nations thrive on innovation and are leveraging technology to overcome unique challenges. While New Zealand must navigate the constraints of being a small, geographically remote nation, India is rapidly evolving as a high-growth economy and global technology powerhouse. That common DNA of innovation makes collaboration a no-brainer."
The partnerships will break traditional models of engagement, moving beyond transactional software development to co-create industry-leading solutions.
For example, Air New Zealand has collaborated with its India-based partners on core projects such as its new digital platforms for cargo customers, the re-platforming of its much loved loyalty programme, as well as ongoing digitalisation to flight operations, engineering and maintenance, as well as within the next generation retail transformation programme.
Air New Zealand's agile approach integrates TCS, IBS Software, TSI, Cognizant, and Accenture teams directly into its operations, enabling faster decision-making and dynamic innovation. This ensures the airline remains at the forefront of technological advancements while providing its partners with a highly adaptive and innovative environment to build and test new solutions.
"For our partners, New Zealand offers a unique opportunity to test, refine, and deploy digital solutions at scale, and Air New Zealand's ability to move quickly and experiment makes us an ideal collaborator. These partnerships are not just commercially driven, they are about pioneering new approaches that have global applicability."
By working with world-class technology teams in India, Air New Zealand working to redefine what is possible in aviation technology, ensuring that both its customers and the broader industry benefit from cutting-edge digital solutions.
The airline remains committed to creating seamless, efficient, and enjoyable travel experiences for customers worldwide.
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 8.7 years. Air New Zealand's global network of passenger and cargo services centres around New Zealand. In 2023, the airline flew more than 16 million passengers. Air New Zealand was named 2024 World's Safest Airline by the Australian rating service AirlineRatings.com, highlighting the airline's laser-focus on safety and won Best Corporate Reputation in New Zealand in 2023 – the 9th year in a row.
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, Asia, the Pacific Islands and the US, 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