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Jetstar is suspending two trans-Tasman routes towards the end of this year citing high costs and low passenger demand.
Sunshine Coast to Auckland, and Cairns to Christchurch, will both be indefinitely put on ice from 24 October, as the routes are no longer commercially viable and operating costs have increased. The low-cost carrier will, however, resume Sydney-Christchurch from 26 October.
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“While we have made some difficult decisions on specific routes in response to low passenger numbers and challenging market conditions, our commitment to Queensland – and to making air travel affordable for Queenslanders – has never been stronger,” a Jetstar spokesperson said.
“We remain the largest carrier to and from Cairns, offering more than 3.2 million low-fare seats each year across domestic and international routes to and from Cairns and Townsville.
“Across Queensland more broadly, 2025 was our biggest-ever expansion year – our seventh new international route out of Queensland – and that investment has continued into 2026 with new services between Brisbane to Rarotonga, Brisbane to Queenstown, and the Sunshine Coast to Bali.
“We’re focused on connecting Queenslanders to more destinations, for less.”
Jetstar cited “lower-than-expected demand” and “significant rise in operating costs, including fuel” for its decision to drop the two services.
“These rising costs include the soon to be implemented increase in Australia’s Passenger Movement Charge to $80 per passenger (an increase of $10), expected to directly impact flight performance from 2027, as well as broader escalation in aviation-related taxes, transport fees, government and airport charges on both sides of the Tasman,” the airline said in a NZ press release.
“These continue to place pressure on international routes, especially for low-fares airlines.”
Alongside the Sydney-Christchurch route, which will launch the day before Perth-Christchurch on 27 October, Jetstar is also upping frequency on its Auckland to Melbourne route from seven to 11 flights per week and retiming its Hamilton to Sydney route for smoother connections.
Additionally, sister airline Qantas will increase capacity with additional flights and larger aircraft, adding 15,000 seats from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane to Queenstown between October and March, and up to 10 per cent between Sydney and Auckland over the same period.
Jetstar earlier this year cut trans-Tasman flights amid the fuel crisis.
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