Today, 7 December 2011, Singapore Airlines is celebrating 25 years of direct flights to Christchurch International Airport with a permanent increase of daily services to Christchurch.

The Singapore Airlines connection is already worth hundreds of millions of dollars locally and nationally, and the increase in daily services will pour even more revenue into the South Island economy.

“This is very good news because the increase in flights means more than 1,995 tourists have direct access to the South Island every week,” says Christchurch Airport CEO, Jim Boult. “This is significant and exciting for Christchurch, the gateway to the South Island.”

The flight into Christchurch Airport presents an unforgettable first impression for visitors. Says Mr. Boult, “the flights into Christchurch delight the airline’s travellers. We know most international travellers book a trip to New Zealand expecting to see stunning scenery, so flying into Christchurch over the Southern Alps and Canterbury Plains immediately meets that expectation.”

General Manager of Singapore Airlines New Zealand, James Lim, says when Singapore Airlines started flying between Christchurch and Singapore in 1986, the airline was proud to be the first international carrier to offer services out of Christchurch.

“Since then, we have brought more than a million passengers to the beautiful South Island and carried a similar number of people from Christchurch to Singapore and beyond,” says Mr. Lim. “We are extremely proud of our long association with Christchurch.

With even more scheduled flights now on offer between Singapore and Christchurch, the association between Singapore Airlines and Christchurch Airport looks set to remain mutually beneficial for many years to come.