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Air New Zealand will add an extra 63,000 trans-Tasman seats to Brisbane next year.
The carrier is set to increase capacity by 12 per cent from Brisbane to Auckland, and 7 per cent to each of Christchurch and Wellington, from March to October 2026. It comes as a seasonal service from Brisbane to Queenstown is set to run from June to October.
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“More seats mean more opportunities for people to travel across the ditch, whether it is for trade, tourism or connecting with family and friends,” Brisbane Airport chief executive, Gert-Jan de Graaff, said.
“We know the connection between Australia and Aotearoa is strong, and the seasonal uplift will make it even easier for Queenslanders and Kiwis to connect.”
Air New Zealand says it has been seeing strong demand on both sides of the Tasman, which, according to Kathryn O’Brien, the airline’s general manager for Australia, has prompted it to increase service frequency and use higher-gauge aircraft.
“Queenslanders continue to show strong interest in travelling across the Tasman to explore everything New Zealand has to offer, from our cities to our ski fields and everywhere in between,” she said.
“Brisbane is also a popular city for Kiwi expats, so it gives families and friends more opportunities to connect and arrange a visit.
“At the same time, we are seeing more New Zealanders choosing Brisbane for its warm climate, outdoor lifestyle and world class attractions.
“Increasing capacity and adding a new Queenstown service gives travellers even more choice and flexibility, while supporting the growing connectivity we are seeing in and out of Brisbane.”
Air New Zealand’s upcoming Brisbane-Queenstown service will operate three times per week on A320neo aircraft, offering a total of 17,560 additional seats between Queensland and the South Island.
It will bring New Zealand’s flag carrier into direct competition with Jetstar on the route, with the low-cost carrier planning its own Brisbane–Queenstown service from June to October next year, as well as Qantas’ existing Brisbane–Queenstown flights.
Brisbane is now connected to 35 international destinations, with 25 million passengers expected this year and summer holiday travel expected to rise by nine per cent over 2024.
