Wednesday, 10 September 2025: Jetstar and Qantas will significantly expand their New Zealand capacity to provide more choice and low fares for Kiwi holidaymakers and business travellers while supporting and growing the country's tourism industry.
Jetstar capacity
Jetstar has unveiled the single-biggest expansion ever of its New Zealand and trans-Tasman network with the launch of two new routes and additional capacity on five existing routes - creating a total of more than 660,000 new seats a year.
In time for next year's snow season, Jetstar will take off from Brisbane to Queenstown three times a week*. The seasonal service will provide more than 17,000 low fares seats between June and October from 2026.
New Zealand's low fares leader will also launch new daily flights from Hamilton to Christchurch, creating more than 135,000 seats a year between Waikato and Canterbury from 1 December 2025.
Jetstar will add close to 500,000 seats a year across five of its most popular domestic and trans-Tasman routes, including between:
• Auckland and Christchurch: increasing from up to eight daily to up to 11 daily (290,000 additional seats per year)
• Auckland and Brisbane: increasing from up to ten per week to twice daily (99,000 additional seats per year)
• Auckland and Sydney: increasing from up to eight per week to up to 12 per week (79,000 additional seats per year)
• Christchurch and Melbourne: increasing to daily year-round (26,000 additional seats per year)
• Auckland and Dunedin: increasing from seven per week to up to 10 per week (From 26 October - 17 May 2026. 24,000 additional seats per year)
The airline has also retimed its flights between Auckland and Wellington to a 7:30am departure to provide greater convenience and choice for business and government travellers.
To support these capacity increases, Jetstar will base an additional A320 aircraft in Auckland, bringing its Aotearoa based fleet to nine aircraft.
Jetstar connectivity
Jetstar's additional trans-Tasman flying will make it easier and more convenient for Kiwis and international travellers to connect between the airline's extensive networks in New Zealand, Australia and the Asia Pacific.
Double daily services from Auckland to Brisbane will allow customers to connect to Osaka, Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok and Cebu with one short stop in Brisbane.
Extra flights from Christchurch to Melbourne will unlock more opportunities for Kiwi's to visit Singapore, Bangkok, Bali, Phuket and Ho Chi Minh City with one stop in Australia.
The carrier has also brought forward departure of its Christchurch to Cairns flights to 7am to allow for connections via North Queensland onto Tokyo (Narita).
Jetstar sale
To celebrate, Jetstar is kicking off a NZ network-wide sale from 3pm NZST today, with domestic fares from $42^ (e.g. Christchurch to Wellington) and international one-way fares from $147^ (e.g. Hamilton to Sydney) at jetstar.com.
One-way fares in the Explore More Sale include:
• Christchurch to Wellington from $42^
• Auckland to Christchurch and Wellington from $49^
• Hamilton to Christchurch from $52^
• Hamilton to Sydney from $147^
• Queenstown to Brisbane from $228^
• Auckland to Osaka (Kansai), via Brisbane from $432^
• Christchurch to Tokyo (Narita) via Cairns from $455^
The sale ends at 11.59pm NZST on Monday 15 September unless sold out prior. Fares and full conditions are available at Jetstar.com. Travel dates vary per route but include early October 2025 to late June 2026.
Qantas Tasman Updates
From February 2026, Qantas will begin flying its state-of-the-art A220 aircraft on flights between Wellington and Brisbane up to three times per week, marking the first time the aircraft will fly an international route.
The new aircraft joined the Qantas fleet in early 2024 and is significantly more fuel efficient than previous generation aircraft with up to 50 per cent noise footprint reduction, a light and bright cabin design with specially designed seats and large windows to allow for a greater sense of space and a more comfortable travel experience for customers.
It also offers fast and free Wi-Fi, 20 per cent more overhead locker space, an integrated personal device holder and USB A and C charging in both Economy and Business, plus wireless charging pads in Business.
The Australian national carrier is also increasing capacity on its services between Christchurch and Sydney, with up to two additional flights per week during February and March, adding over 5,000 seats to the route.
Jetstar Group CEO, Stephanie Tully, said these changes will lift Jetstar's total NZ domestic capacity by 18 per cent, and 14 per cent across the Tasman.
"We know how vital air travel is for connecting Kiwi families, friends, holidaymakers and business travellers.
"Our two new routes and increased domestic and trans-Tasman capacity will create more than 660,000 new low fares seats a year.
"These changes will give a much-needed boost to inbound tourism while offering Kiwis even more low-fares and choice in how they travel.
"With more seats on our trans-Tasman network than ever before, with one stop in Australia, Kiwis will have enhanced connectivity to Asia and beyond.
"We're working closely with the New Zealand Government to manage rising costs in the market and thank them for their commitment to ensuring sustainable growth for air travel to and within New Zealand - providing more choice for customers."
Tourism and Hospitality Minister, Hon Louise Upston, said "The Government has a clear priority to unleash economic growth and Tourism, as our second largest export sector, is a crucial part of that.
"These new services will strengthen airline connectivity for both tourism and business within New Zealand and on the Trans-Tasman routes.
"Improved aviation connectivity is an important component in our Tourism Growth Roadmap and I congratulate Jetstar and Qantas for making these connections happen."
^Sale ends 11.59pm Monday 15 September 2025, unless sold out. Prices based on payment by POLi, Jetstar voucher, Jetstar Gift Card, or bookings redeemed only in Qantas Points through jetstar.com. For other options, a Payment Fee applies. See jetstar.com/fees. One-way, excludes checked bags. Travel dates and other conditions apply. *Flights between Queenstown and Brisbane are subject to Government and Regulatory approval.
