Pune has no direct link to New Zealand. Here is how Kiwi families actually get there, what each option costs in time, and how to make the last leg easy.
Quick answer: how do I fly from Auckland to Pune?
There is no non-stop flight from Auckland to Pune, and we cannot confirm a one-stop route on a single ticket. For most families the practical answer is to fly Auckland to Mumbai with one stop, from NZD $920 per person (checked 12 October 2026, prices change daily), then take the Mumbai–Pune Expressway by car or bus. That last leg is about 150 km and usually takes 3 to 4 hours. A short domestic flight, or a Dubai connection, are the other options.
Why there is no direct flight from Auckland to Pune
Pune Airport (PNQ, at Lohegaon) is busy, but it is mostly a domestic airport. Its international flights are few. Reports from the 2025–26 winter schedule show daily IndiGo and SpiceJet flights between Pune and Dubai, and an Air India Express service to Bangkok. That is a short list, and none of those cities connect neatly with the airlines that fly out of New Zealand on one booking.
Mumbai is a different story. It is one of India’s two biggest gateways, and every major one-stop route from Auckland lands there. So for Pune, the sensible plan is to treat Mumbai as your arrival airport and sort the final 150 km separately.
If you have not looked at the Mumbai route yet, start with our guide to flights Auckland to Mumbai.
Four ways to get from Auckland to Pune
Each option has a trade-off. We can price any of them for your dates.
Option | How it works | Good for | Watch out for |
A. Fly to Mumbai, then road | One stop via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Bangkok or a Gulf hub into Mumbai. Then a pre-booked car or an expressway bus to Pune, about 150 km and 3 to 4 hours. | Families, lots of luggage, anyone being collected by relatives. | Mumbai traffic. Landing late at night and driving tired. |
B. Fly to Mumbai, then a domestic flight | The same international flights, then a domestic hop of about an hour to Pune. | Travellers who would rather not sit in a car after a long flight. | Changing terminals in Mumbai. Usually a separate ticket, so allow a long gap. |
C. Gulf carrier to Dubai, then IndiGo or SpiceJet to Pune | Auckland to Dubai, then a separate ticket on the daily Dubai–Pune flights. | Travellers who want to land in Pune itself. | Two separate tickets. Baggage re-check. No protection if your first flight runs late. |
D. Air India via Delhi on one ticket | Auckland to Delhi with one stop, then an Air India domestic flight Delhi–Pune, if the whole trip can be issued on one booking. | Travellers who want one booking end to end. | Depends on the fare and the dates. Ask us to check before you plan around it. |
For most of the families we book, option A wins. The fare to Mumbai is the lowest of the lot, the road leg is simple to arrange, and everyone and their bags travel together.
Mumbai to Pune: road or a short flight?
By road. The Mumbai–Pune Expressway is the standard route. It is about 150 km and typically takes 3 to 4 hours, longer in heavy traffic. Over the New Zealand summer holidays you are travelling in India’s dry season, so the drive is usually smooth. You can pre-book a car from Mumbai airport, or take one of the many buses that run between the two cities through the day.
By air. The flight itself is about an hour. The catch is everything around it. You need to clear immigration and customs in Mumbai, collect your bags, move to the domestic terminal, and check in again. In practice that adds several hours, and the domestic flight is usually on a separate ticket. Flying makes sense if a long road trip is hard for someone in your group. Otherwise, the car is simpler.
5 tips for booking flights Auckland to Pune
1. Price Mumbai first, then add the last leg
Search Auckland to Mumbai as your main fare. Right now it starts from NZD $920 per person (checked 12 October 2026, prices change daily). Once that is locked in, the road or domestic leg is a small cost in comparison. Our stopover guide compares the hubs so you can pick the one that suits your family.
2. Land in Mumbai in the morning if you can
A morning arrival means you do the expressway in daylight, with time for a meal stop, and reach Pune before dinner. A midnight arrival means a dark drive with tired children.
3. Be careful with separate tickets
If you buy your international flight and your onward flight separately, the airlines are not linked. If the first flight is late, the second airline does not have to rebook you, and you may lose that fare. You will also need to collect your bags and check in again. If you go this way, leave a gap of at least five or six hours, and consider an overnight stop so one delay does not wreck the plan.
4. Keep everyone on one booking
Book parents, children and grandparents together. It keeps seats together, makes changes simpler, and means one set of baggage rules for the whole family.
5. Students and teachers: use MannPass
Verified New Zealand students, teachers, lecturers and education staff can join MannPass. It takes NZD $25 off selected return flights between New Zealand and India. Each pass is valid for 30 days and can be renewed, and it cannot be combined with other promotions.
Travelling to Pune with family
Many of the Pune bookings we handle are for the whole family, often with grandparents. A few things that make the trip easier:
- Book the car before you fly. Arranging a car from Mumbai airport in advance saves haggling at midnight with a trolley full of bags.
- Travelling with elderly parents? Ask us about wheelchair assistance and special meals when you book. For the last leg, the road is usually kinder than a second check-in.
- Check your documents early. New Zealand passport holders need an Indian visa or OCI card. Apply through the official Indian visa website well before you fly.
- Spread the cost. Ask our team about flexible payment options such as PayLite and Afterpay.
Schools in New Zealand break for summer in mid-December, with most primary schools closing in the week of 14 to 18 December 2026. If Pune is your plan for the holidays, book early. The Mumbai flights fill fast in that window.
Why book your Pune trip with Mann Travel?
Our Papatoetoe team specialises in flights between New Zealand and India, departing Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. We speak Hindi, Punjabi and English, and we are on call 24/7. For Pune in particular, we can price the Mumbai route, the Dubai route and the Delhi route side by side and tell you plainly which one suits your family.
Let’s take you home to Pune.
Search live fares at manntravel.co.nz/flights or call our Auckland team on 09 973 1940. You can also send us your dates and we will come back with options.
frequently asked questions
Is there a direct flight from Auckland to Pune?
No. There is no non-stop flight, and we cannot confirm a one-stop route on a single ticket. Most travellers fly to Mumbai with one stop and continue to Pune by road or a short domestic flight.
How far is Pune from Mumbai airport?
About 150 km by the Mumbai–Pune Expressway. Allow 3 to 4 hours by car or bus, and more in heavy traffic.
Can I fly from Mumbai to Pune instead of driving?
Yes. The domestic flight takes about an hour, but it is usually a separate ticket and you need to collect your bags and check in again in Mumbai. Allow several hours between flights.
How much are flights from Auckland to Pune?
Fares to Mumbai start from NZD $920 per person (checked 12 October 2026, prices change daily). Add the cost of the road trip or domestic flight to Pune.
Do New Zealand passport holders need a visa for India?
Yes. You need an Indian visa or an OCI card. Apply through the official Indian visa website, and check the New Zealand government’s travel advice before you go.
Fares and availability change daily and depend on the airline, date and fare type. Flight schedules, including Pune’s international services, change by season. Always check live prices and current timetables before booking.
