Passengers with only carry-on baggage are now able to proceed directly from the airport’s skywalk into the new mezzanine screening area, which will have 10 lanes and is planned to be fully open to all passengers by Christmas.

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.

The state will invest an extra $122 million into the subsidies to extend them to June 2031; however, under the revised plan to take effect from 1 July next year, passengers will pay more for “high-demand” flights such as those booked on school or public holidays, or at the last minute.

The US$8.3 billion deal, announced last year, brings Spirit back under Boeing’s control, and includes manufacturing of 737 fuselages; major structures for the 767, 777 and 787 Dreamliner programs; and commercially-procured P-8 and KC-46 fuselages.