Demand for Singapore travel on the rise amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East
Many New Zealanders are choosing to go through Singapore rather than Dubai to get to Europe.
The travel industry in New Zealand is thriving, despite ongoing conflict in the Middle East and rising fuel costs, according to Julie White, CEO of the Travel Agents Association of New Zealand. June transactions were up 12 percent compared to 2025, indicating strong demand from Kiwis. White emphasized that travel is now an essential part of New Zealanders' annual budgets, not a discretionary expense.
The popularity of Singapore as a travel hub has increased due to the Middle East travel disruptions. Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand have added capacity to routes leading to Europe from Singapore. However, strong demand for flights operated by Middle Eastern carriers such as Qatar Airways and Emirates continues.
White noted that flight disruptions are a routine aspect of the airline business, and global airlines have robust plans to handle any such situation.
Despite the challenges in the Middle East, there has been a decline in the number of Kiwis traveling to the United States. White attributed this to the decreasing purchasing power of the New Zealand dollar in the US and geopolitical concerns. In May 2026, 10,696 New Zealanders visited the United States, a decrease from 13,769 in 2025.
On the other hand, travel to Japan rose by 15 percent year-on-year, likely benefiting from its favorable position within the Northern Hemisphere summer travel season. Overall, northern hemisphere destinations remain highly sought after by New Zealanders during their winter months.
White acknowledged that the impact of increased jet fuel costs on airlines and travelers is significant, potentially accounting for around six percent of domestic airline expenses. With fuel costs constituting approximately 40 percent of an airline's total costs, the rise in fuel prices is a substantial concern.
In May 2026, New Zealand saw 6,429 arrivals from the United Kingdom, a decrease from 8,053 in May 2025. However, White highlighted a strong demand for inbound travel due to New Zealand's summer season and increased bookings for outbound travel in 2027.
Written by urgent.news from RNZ Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
