South Africa and New Zealand have expanded their air services agreement to cover rights to Australia.

New Zealand carriers were previously prevented from picking up passengers and cargo in Australia and flying onto South Africa. But they are permitted to do this under the new agreement, says the New Zealand Government.

South African carriers are also permitted to pick up passengers and cargo in Australia before travelling onto New Zealand.

The updated agreement also covers codeshares, it adds. No airlines operate between New Zealand and South Africa, but ANZ and South African Airways announced that they will be codesharing on the Johannesburg-Perth and Perth-Auckland routes from 1 November.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news