A New Zealand international airline is an air transport enterprise that:
- is designated, or seeking to be designated, as an airline that is entitled to offer air transport services as a New Zealand airline under an air services agreement (or similar arrangement) between New Zealand and any other country or territory; or
- has its principal place of business in New Zealand and is operating, or seeking to operate, a scheduled international air service under the single aviation market arrangements set out in the air services agreement in force between New Zealand and Australia.
Your application must include details for each service you plan to operate
- the route you will follow, including all places to be served on the route
- the aircraft type you will operate and, for passenger services, its seating configuration
- how often the service will operate every week
- details of any code-share arrangements
- the airline code and flight numbers to be used on each route
- the date you intend to start the service.
- We may also ask you to submit a schedule of full passenger fares.
Proof of ownership and control
You must show that the airline is substantially owned and effectively controlled by New Zealand nationals. Include affidavits in your application showing that:
- the airline is incorporated, and its head office and operational base are in New Zealand
- New Zealand nationals:
- own at least 51% of the paid-up capital of the airline, and that, for passenger airlines, the total paid-up capital is equal with the scale of the operation proposed, and
- have effective control of the airline by holding a majority of the positions on the board, including that of chairperson — in addition, if services are to be provided to Australia, at least two-thirds of the board positions must be held by Australian or New Zealand nationals
- no more than 25% of the airline is owned by a single foreign airline, or foreign airline interest
- no more than 35% in total is owned by foreign airlines or foreign airline interests.
If arrangements relating to the operation of the service would, in effect, give control of the airline to a foreign interest you must declare this in the affidavit.
Proof of safety and security certification
To meet aviation safety and security requirements, you may need to hold an air operator certificate. We can only grant a scheduled international air service licence after the certificate has been issued. Airlines that intend to code-share, and not operate their own aircraft, do not need a certificate.
You can find information about air operator certificates at: Apply for an air operator certificate (aviation.govt.nz)
Proof of insurance
You must provide proof of insurance covering any liability that may arise out of, or in connection with, the operation of the services in respect of death or bodily injury, or of property damage.
We can ask airlines at any time to supply proof that their insurance is current.
Financial ability and experience
You need to demonstrate that you have the financial ability to carry out the proposed service and will be likely to do so satisfactorily.
You need to provide assurances that the airline has the financial ability to carry out the proposed service and be likely to do so satisfactorily. The financial information required by the Ministry to provide this assurance will be confirmed in discussion with the applicant.
Competing claims for air traffic rights
Under a number of New Zealand’s bilateral air services agreements, there is restricted capacity that can be allocated to New Zealand international airlines. Under some agreements each country can only designate one or two airlines.
If this is the case, it is possible for the available air traffic rights to be subject to competing bids from New Zealand airlines. In that event, applications for scheduled international air service licences may be evaluated based on how the service meets the main purpose and contributes to the additional purposes of the Civil Aviation Act 2023 and assessed against services (if any) that are being operated on the proposed route by another New Zealand international airline.
As part of the evaluation, a review may be undertaken to assess any compliance issues arising from the licence application.
Following the evaluation, the Ministry will advise the Minister with a recommendation to grant or deny the licence.
Public notice that an application for a restricted scheduled international air service has been received
When an application from a New Zealand international airline is received for a restricted scheduled international air service, we put a notice on our Ministry of Transport website and may send copies to interested parties.
The notice will outline the services proposed, including route, frequency, aircraft and any other relevant details. No confidential financial information is released. Anyone can make a written submission to the Secretary for Transport within the period specified in the notice (being a period that is not less than 21 days of the notice being published).
Applicants are given the opportunity to comment on any submissions received. The licensing authority must take any submissions and the applicant’s responses into account when considering a variation.
Airline Designation
We will consider designating and licensing airlines based in New Zealand that are primarily under the safety supervision of the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), but have more than 49% foreign ownership if:
- you propose operating services as a New Zealand international airline, and:
- all of your proposed services are offered in accordance with air service agreements with other countries that would:
- reasonably be expected to accept New Zealand’s designation of the airline, and
- issue an operating authorisation to such an airline.