Qantas will be increasing capacity on three of its trans-Tasman routes.
Starting in late October, the airline will add “up to 260,000 additional seats” across three of its trans-Tasman routes due to “strong demand” from customers.
Daily flights between Christchurch and Brisbane will increase from daily to between 10 and 12 a week – adding 1700 seats a week.
Daily flights between Christchurch and Melbourne will increase to 12 per week over the December/January peak and continue between 10 to 12 in 2025. This is expected to add up to 1700 seats a week.
Flights between Wellington and Melbourne will increase from daily to 10 a week between September of this year and April 2025, adding up to 1000 seats each week.
Qantas said the changes are a 50% increase in capacity on the selected routes and a 7% increase across all trans-Tasman operations.
“We’ve been growing our trans-Tasman network over the last six months with new routes, larger aircraft and more flights to support sustained demand,” Qantas International chief executive Cam Wallace said.
“These additional flights will see us operate almost double daily services from Melbourne and Brisbane to Christchurch, offering business and leisure customers more choice in the time of day they’d like to travel.
“The services will also make it easier for Kiwis to connect to our broader domestic and international network via the east coast of Australia.
“We are flying more people across the Tasman than we did pre-Covid, with up to 180 return flights each week. We’ll continue to look for opportunities to grow it further where there is demand.”
Christchurch Airport welcomed the increase in flights, saying it brings more value to the South Island.
“Every time a plane touches down on our runway, it brings in valuable international visitors that benefit our communities and businesses,” chief executive Justin Watson said.
“This support means Qantas’ Christchurch routes will soon have 500,000 seats each year, and our growth will continue. It’s great news,” he said.
All the flights will operate with Boeing 737 aircraft.
Wellington Airport chief executive Matt Clarke echoed Watson’s comments.
“This is more good news for travellers and Wellington’s tourism sector,” he said.
“It’s reinforcing Qantas’s role as the main international airline for Wellington… People are keen to travel and it’s great to see airline capacity increasing to meet that demand.
“More flights mean improved choice, competition and connections.”