- New seasonal non-stop Jetstar flight between Christchurch and Perth on sale
- The inaugural season will operate three times weekly from October 2026 to March 2027, delivering more than 15,000 inbound seats to Western Australia from New Zealand
- Airline to open new cabin crew base and create up to 90 jobs for Western Australians
Western Australia is strengthening its international aviation links with the launch of a new seasonal non-stop Jetstar service connecting Christchurch and Perth.
Flights are now on sale for the new route, which was secured in partnership with Perth Airport and Christchurch Airport, and will operate three times per week from 27 October 2026 until 27 March 2027.
The seasonal service will deliver close to an additional 700 inbound seats from New Zealand each week, bringing more than 15,000 seats to the State across the season, strengthening connectivity between the two cities.
Supported by the Cook Government, the route also strengthens WA's links with New Zealand, complementing the established non-stop services to Auckland.
The airline will also open a new cabin crew base at Perth Airport, creating 90 jobs for Western Australians as it seeks to build its domestic and international network out of Australia's Western Gateway.
New Zealand is Western Australia's third largest international market by visitor numbers, with 78,000 visitors spending $166 million in the year ending September 2025. The number of New Zealanders travelling to Western Australia is motivated by the State's large expat community, with around one-in-three visitors travelling specifically to visit friends and family.
The seasonal service between Christchurch and Perth is one of 22 direct international routes connecting Western Australia to the world, reinforcing Perth's position as a growing global aviation hub and Australia's Western Gateway.
These nonstop flights form part of the State Government's economic diversification strategy, attracting out-of-state visitors to increase tourism across Western Australia, providing a boost to business and industry, supporting local jobs.
Find out more at jetstar.com
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"Western Australia has a strong link with New Zealand, driven by our proud expat community welcoming family and friends from across the ditch.
"The announcement of Jetstar's direct flights to Christchurch will connect families to home and New Zealand tourists to Australia's Western Gateway.
"The new cabin crew base, which will create 90 new jobs for Western Australians, is further proof of my government's commitment to diversify our economy and provide quality jobs."
As stated by Tourism Minister Reece Whitby:
"Reestablishing a direct air link between Perth and Christchurch is an important milestone for Western Australia. This service strengthens our connection to New Zealand - one of our most valuable international visitor markets - and supports our tourism industry.
"This service not only boosts flight capacity into Western Australia but also contributes to our broader economic diversification strategy by attracting visitors, supporting local jobs, and reinforcing Perth's position as Australia's Western Gateway.
"International routes like this are critical to Western Australia's continued economic growth, strengthening our global aviation connectivity and supporting the WA businesses that rely on a strong tourism sector."
