Qantas Expands Flight Options with 60,000 New Seats for New Zealand Summer Travel

Summer Travel Boost

Qantas is making waves in the travel scene by announcing a remarkable increase in flight capacity between Australia and New Zealand. As December 2025 and January 2026 approach, an additional 60,000 seats will become available, significantly enhancing travel opportunities for summer holidaymakers.

Enhanced Capacity and Flexibility

This substantial boost in trans-Tasman capacity amounts to a 20% increase for those eager to experience the beauty of Aotearoa during the busy holiday season. Along with easing airfare pressures, this move should allow travelers more flexibility and options.

Flight routes enjoying the most drastic increases include:

Brisbane to Queenstown, with a staggering 75% capacity boost.
Melbourne to Queenstown, seeing a 50% increase.
Sydney to Christchurch, escalating by 47%.
Sydney to Wellington, increasing by 31%.
Melbourne to Auckland, rising by 23%.

In total, over 3.3 million seats will be available across the Tasman for the year leading up to January 2026, ensuring ample opportunities for travel between the two nations.

Brisbane to Auckland Flights

Starting in August 2025, Qantas will launch Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights between Brisbane and Auckland. This addition introduces Premium Economy to the route and enhances the number of premium seating options by an impressive 80%. Initially slated for three flights per week, this service is set to become daily starting October 2025.

Cam Wallace, Qantas International CEO, emphasized the significant growth seen in New Zealand from various initiatives—including the refurbishment of their Auckland lounge and the launch of new routes by Jetstar.

Wallace noted, “We’re excited to provide more Tasman flights, meaning Qantas will boast the highest frequency between Australia and New Zealand during one of the peak travel seasons. This capacity surge translates to nearly 60,000 extra seats compared to last summer, further expanding choice and convenience for our travelers while also supporting tourism and economic growth in both regions.”

Attracting Australian Travelers

Tourism New Zealand’s Regional Director for Australia, Andrew Waddel, expressed enthusiasm over this enhanced flight offering, stating it presents even greater choices for Australian explorers. “With airlines ramping up services across all major ports, it opens up additional pathways for travelers to embark on their New Zealand adventure,” he remarked.

Aussies looking to explore the country’s stunning coastlines, premier cycling trails, and local fine wines will find the longer sunny days and warmer weather to be a welcoming backdrop for their travels. Waddel also pointed out that while Australians tend to visit New Zealand year-round, summer travel sees a notable peak—a steady demand that this Qantas capacity rise should indeed cater to effectively.

Potential for Cost Improvements

Melissa Elf, Managing Director at Flight Centre Corporate ANZ, lauded the additional flights alongside the resumption of the Adelaide-Auckland service as positive news impacting airline capacity and associated fares. Although Auckland remains a top international travel destination for Australians, it has experienced reduced airline capacity and an uptick in airfare compared to previous years.

“Return economy fares have seen an increase of about three percent in the first quarter of this year versus the same quarter last year,” Elf remarked. Despite these rising fares, travel between Australia and New Zealand is expected to remain robust. The additional flights aim to alleviate supply constraints while managing escalating travel costs critical for Australian travelers heading to one of their most significant trading partners.

Flight Schedule Highlights

Route	Current Schedule	Seasonal Summer Change
Sydney – Auckland	35 flights per week	Up to 6 additional flights per week
Sydney – Christchurch	14 flights per week	Up to 7 additional flights per week
Sydney – Wellington	14 flights per week	Up to 5 additional flights per week
Melbourne – Auckland	28 flights per week	Up to 7 additional flights per week
Melbourne – Christchurch	11 flights per week	Up to 3 additional flights per week
Brisbane – Queenstown	4 flights per week	Up to 3 additional flights per week

The recent aviation boost continues with Qantas set to resume international flights from South Australia with the inaugural Adelaide–Auckland flight taking off on October 31, 2025. This return service adds over 30,000 additional seats with competitive return economy fares starting around $699 for travel through selected dates.

Conclusion

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