Drones in New Zealand
Researching and regulating the use of drones in New Zealand.
Drones in New Zealand
What you need to know
International aviation is governed by a network of thousands of bilateral air services agreements that set out the routes and capacity that airlines can operate between any two countries. Airline cooperation agreements are a common feature of international aviation but require authorisation as they might otherwise breach competition law, and to ensure the benefits to the public outweigh the risk of lessening competition. Airlines can enter into cooperation agreements with one another and agree to cooperate on aspects of pricing, scheduling and service delivery in a particular market. Examples include alliances and codeshares:
· An alliance is an extensive commercial arrangement in which two or more airlines agree to cooperate on various aspects of pricing, scheduling, operations and service delivery in a particular market.
· A codeshare agreement is a business arrangement between two or more airlines who want to advertise the same flight involving New Zealand destinations, but under their own airline names and flight numbers.
The Civil Aviation Act 2023 allows for authorisation of cooperation agreements, that involve New Zealand destinations. An agreement, once authorised by the Minister, enables airlines to cooperate on various aspects of their operations without breaching competition laws.
The Minister may grant authorisation if the Minister is satisfied that:
· granting the authorisation will contribute to the main purpose or any of the additional purposes of the Civil Aviation Act; and
· giving effect to the agreement would result, or be likely to result, in a benefit to the public that would outweigh any lessening in competition.
When authorising the Minister must specify the duration of the authorisation and any conditions that apply to the authorisation.
The Minister when considering granting or declining an application, must publicly notify their proposed decision and allow for written submissions on the proposed decision.
Airlines can apply for the airline cooperation agreements to be reauthorised before the current authorisation expires.
Civil Aviation Act 2023 comes into effect on 5 April 2025.
The Civil Aviation Act 2023 came into effect on 5 April 2025. The Act makes some changes to the way applications for co-operative airline agreements will be assessed.
Further information will be provided soon. This web page will be updated (around late April 2025) with guidelines on how to apply and the assessment framework we use.
Consultation open on airline code-share and alliance agreement guidelines February 2025
Submissions open on British Airways-Qatar reauthorisation 2025
October 2024: Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific alliance reauthorised
On 22 October 2024, the Associate Minister of Transport reauthorised the North Asia Alliance Agreement between Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific for a further 5 years until 31 October 2029. The Minister of Transport first authorised the alliance in 2012 and reauthorised in 2015 and 2019.
August 2024: Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia codeshare agreement authorised
On 22 August 2024, the Associate Minister of Transport authorised a Commercial Framework Agreement, Codeshare Agreement, and various related agreements between Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia for a period of 5 years until 22 August 2029.
Submissions open on Qantas-Emirates Reauthorisation 2022
Qantas and Emirates have lodged an application seeking reauthorisation of their alliance (the Restated Master Coordination Agreement).
We are now inviting submissions from interested parties.
Submissions open on Air New Zealand / Cathay Pacific alliance reauthorisation
Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific have lodged an application seeking reauthorisation of their North Asia Alliance Agreement.
We are now inviting submissions from interested parties.
Submissions will be published on the Ministry of Transport website. Please indicate if there is any information in your submission that you consider should be withheld in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982.
Submissions should be emailed to airservices@transport.govt.nz by 5 pm on Friday 3 May 2024.
Dec 2020: Qantas–Japan Airlines Joint Business Agreement
On 21 December 2020, Qantas and Japan Airlines lodged an application seeking authorisation for a Joint Business Agreement for 3 years.
February 2024: Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines alliance reauthorised
On 20 February 2024, the Associate Minister of Transport agreed to reauthorise the Strategic Alliance Agreement between Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines for a further 5 years until 31 March 2029. The Minister of Transport first authorised the alliance in May 2014 and reauthorised in March 2018.
2024 Beehive media release Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines’ alliance extended
Jul 2020: Air New Zealand–Air China Alliance
The Minister of Transport agreed to reauthorise the alliance between Air New Zealand and Air China for 5 years from 31 March 2021 until 31 March 2026.
Submissions open on Air New Zealand-Virgin Australia application for proposed partnership
Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia have lodged an application seeking authorisation to give effect to a Commercial Framework Agreement, Codeshare Agreement, and various related agreements.
We are now inviting submissions from interested parties.
Submissions will be published on the Ministry of Transport website. Please indicate if there is any information in your submission that you consider should be withheld in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982.
Submissions should be emailed to airservices@transport.govt.nz by 5 pm on Thursday 1 February 2024.
Jul 2020: Qantas–American Airlines Joint Business Agreement
The Minister of Transport agreed to reauthorise the alliance between Qantas and American airlines for 5 years from 14 November 2020 until 14 November 2025.
Submissions open on Air New Zealand-Singapore Airlines Reauthorisation 2023
March 2023: Qantas/Emirates alliance reauthorised
On 28 March 2023, the Associate Minister of Transport agreed to reauthorise the alliance (Restated Master Co-ordination Agreement) between Qantas and Emirates for 5 years from 31 March 2023 until 31 March 2028. The Minister of Transport first authorised the alliance in 2013 and reauthorised in 2018.
May 2020: British Airways–Qatar Airways Alliance 2020
The Minister of Transport agreed to authorise an alliance between British Airways and Qatar Airways for 5 years until 31 May 2025.
Aug 2019: Air New Zealand–Cathay Pacific North Asia Alliance Agreement
The Minister of Transport agreed to reauthorise the North Asia Alliance Agreement between Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific for 5 years until 31 October 2024. The Minister first authorised the Alliance Agreement on 1 November 2012, and reauthorised it on 26 August 2015 for a period ending 31 October 2019.
Oct 2018: Air New Zealand–Singapore Airlines Strategic Alliance Agreement
The Minister of Transport agreed to reauthorise the Strategic Alliance Agreement between Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines until 28 March 2024. The Minister first authorised the Alliance in August 2014 for a period of 4 years.
Mar 2018: Qantas–Emirates Master Coordination Agreement
The Minister of Transport agreed to reauthorise the Master Coordination Agreement between Qantas Airways and Emirates for 5 years. The Minister first authorised the Master Coordination Agreement in May 2013 for 5 years.
Nov 2016: Air New Zealand–United Airlines Side Agreement
The Minister of Transport authorised the Side Agreement to the Alliance Expansion Agreement between Air New Zealand and United Airlines, which was authorised in 2002.
Get in touch
If you would like to discuss any aspect of authorisation of airline cooperation agreements, please contact us here alliances@transport.govt.nz.