Booming demand for winter trans-Tasman travel from Brisbane means Air New Zealand will add 63,000 more seats next year.
The Kiwi carrier is adding extra services between the SE Queensland airport with Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington airports.
The Aussie airport is expecting flight capacity from March to October 2026 to grow by 12% with Auckland, 7% with Christchurch and 7% with Wellington.
A new route to Queenstown’s ski fields is due to run from June to October.
Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff says the boost in capacity will help them keep up with soaring demand for trade, tourism or personal reasons.
“The seasonal uplift will make it even easier for Queenslanders and Kiwis to connect,” he says.
BRISBANE POPULARITY
Air New Zealand General Manager Australia Kathryn O’Brien says the new schedule reflects demand to cross the Tasman.
“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 says.
“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 choose Brisbane for its warm climate, outdoor lifestyle and world class attractions. Increasing capacity and adding a new Queenstown service … supports the growing connectivity we are seeing.”
Brisbane Airport is now connected to 35 international destinations with international travel these summer holidays expected to rise 9% on last year.
A record 25 million passengers are expected through Brisbane Airport this year.
AUSTRALIA STILL TOPS FOR AUCKLAND AIRPORT
Auckland Airport reports that Australia remains their top destination for 35% of all international passenger departures.
Of these, over 40% are Kiwis visiting Australia and 36% are Aussies returning home, the airport’s chief customer officer, Scott Tasker, says.
“We’re still missing just under 12% capacity on the Tasman (routes) compared to 2019, but airlines are adding flights to meet demand.
“There’s around 6% more capacity compared to last summer, including Qantas adding 32 flights a week, Jetstar putting on extra flights on the Brisbane and Sydney routes, Qantas’s seasonal connection to Adelaide and the (permanent) Perth service adding competition.”
OTHER AIR TRAVEL NEWS: Airlines to boost trans-Tasman summer capacity
