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Air New Zealand is once again turning a routine domestic service into a flying festival, bringing back its SYNTHONY in the Sky charter this May for a one-off concert flight from Auckland to Christchurch that doubles as the official warm-up to the sold-out Once In A Lifetime show at Christchurch’s new One New Zealand Stadium.
A High-Altitude Encore for a Hit Concept
Announced on February 24, 2026, the new SYNTHONY in the Sky service marks the second time Air New Zealand has converted a commercial aircraft into a live music venue, and the first time it has done so on a domestic route between Auckland and Christchurch. Flight NZ1212 will depart Auckland on Friday 15 May 2026, with the entire journey reimagined as a high-energy pre-party for fans heading south to see SIX60 and SYNTHONY share the stage in Christchurch.
The charter follows the runaway success of Air New Zealand’s first SYNTHONY in the Sky experience, a one-off inflight rave from Auckland to Sydney that sold out in hours and captured international attention for its combination of aviation and live performance. Building on that momentum, the airline is now positioning the Christchurch charter as a fully integrated part of the Once In A Lifetime concert experience, rather than simply a way to get to the show.
From boarding to landing, the flight is designed to feel like the opening act of the weekend, setting the tone well before passengers walk through the stadium gates. With demand expected to mirror the first charter, the airline has stressed that seats on NZ1212 will be strictly limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
From Cabin to Concert Venue
On board NZ1212, the cabin will be transformed into a compact but immersive concert environment, with SYNTHONY talent performing live as the aircraft cruises at around 30,000 feet. Rather than pre-recorded playlists or background music, passengers can expect a curated set that blends electronic dance tracks with live instrumental and vocal performances, echoing the signature SYNTHONY format normally reserved for large stages.
The airline is promising a continuous sense of occasion from gate to gate. Check-in and boarding are expected to lean into the event atmosphere, with customers treated as concertgoers from the moment they arrive at the airport. Once airborne, the cabin will function as a moving pre-show space where the energy steadily builds toward the main event in Christchurch the following night.
While exact set lists and surprise guests have not been disclosed, Air New Zealand has confirmed that SYNTHONY performers will be on board, delivering a tailored show that fits within the flight time between the two cities. For many passengers, the experience will effectively compress the excitement of a festival road trip into a single high-altitude journey.
A Once-In-A-Lifetime Package for Fans
SYNTHONY in the Sky is being sold as a bundled experience rather than a standard seat-only fare. Priced at NZD 489 one way, each ticket includes the charter flight from Auckland to Christchurch on May 15, a general admission standing ticket to the Once In A Lifetime concert at One New Zealand Stadium on Saturday 16 May, and behind-the-scenes access to part of SYNTHONY’s soundcheck.
Adding to the exclusivity, passengers will be invited to an intimate SIX60 acoustic performance in Christchurch on the Friday, available only to SYNTHONY in the Sky ticket holders. This off-stage showcase is designed to give fans a rare, close-up encounter with one of New Zealand’s biggest bands before they headline the stadium the following evening.
What is not included is a return journey or accommodation. The charter is strictly one way, and customers are responsible for arranging their own flights home from Christchurch as well as any hotel stays. Air New Zealand has also highlighted that the package is non-transferable and non-refundable, underscoring its nature as a one-off, limited-capacity event rather than a flexible fare product.
Christchurch’s New Stadium Takes Centre Stage
The timing of the SYNTHONY in the Sky revival is closely tied to a landmark moment for Christchurch. The Once In A Lifetime concert will be the first major live music event held at One New Zealand Stadium, the city’s new national-standard venue, marking a symbolic step forward for the local entertainment scene.
Headlined by SIX60 and SYNTHONY, the show will feature a full orchestral-electronic SYNTHONY set, a complete SIX60 performance blending new material with established hits, and a collaborative finale where the band’s biggest songs are reimagined with SYNTHONY’s trademark symphonic treatment. For Christchurch and for New Zealand’s broader live music calendar, the event is being framed as a defining debut for the stadium.
By attaching a bespoke charter flight to the concert, Air New Zealand is helping to concentrate national attention on Christchurch as a destination for large-scale culture and entertainment. For fans traveling from Auckland and beyond, the journey itself becomes a narrative thread in what is being marketed as an unrepeatable weekend on the South Island.
Air New Zealand Bets on Experiential Travel
For Air New Zealand, SYNTHONY in the Sky is part of a broader strategy to differentiate the airline through high-impact experiential offerings that go beyond traditional notions of service and comfort. Recent years have seen the carrier test new inflight technologies and themed flights, from cultural celebration services to connectivity trials, as it looks to redefine what a domestic or trans-Tasman trip can feel like.
By partnering with a homegrown entertainment concept like SYNTHONY and household names such as SIX60, the airline is reinforcing its identity as both a national carrier and a cultural ambassador. The return of SYNTHONY in the Sky suggests that the appetite for immersive, event-led travel is growing, especially among younger and experience-driven passengers who see the journey as an integral part of the story.
If the charter once again sells out in hours, it will strengthen the case for future collaborations that blur the lines between transport and live entertainment. For now, though, Air New Zealand is clear that NZ1212 is a one-off, framed as an opportunity for a select group of passengers to say they were part of a concert that began above the clouds and ended with a stadium crowd in Christchurch.