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International airlines have finalised planned services to international airports in New Zealand. Over the coming New Zealand summer, growth of international air services will accelerate, enabling tourism vital to economic growth and supporting New Zealand’s international trade.
Airlines plan services according to seasons – and it’s the ‘Northern Winter’ season which runs from October to March that tourism operators hope will bring them the visitors to drive economic growth.
“We’ve finally reached a turning point for growth in international air services,” says Board of Airline Representatives NZ chief executive Cath O’Brien.
“Over the coming Northern Winter season from October 2025 to March 2026 planned international services will increase by 8.2 per cent against services operated in the same period last year. We are finally seeing strong growth, and it’s a real vote of confidence in the New Zealand market.”
International services planned for this Northern Winter season will exceed services operated over Northern Winter 2019 by 3.5 per cent.
“It’s a huge milestone to see planning nudge ahead of the pre-pandemic period,” says O’Brien. “The New Zealand market has been slow to recover – and this capacity is exactly what we need to support tourism and economic growth.”
• Over this summer there will be very strong growth to airports in the South Island. Christchurch Airport will again receive strong growth over summer, with services for Northern Winter 25 increasing by 14.7 per cent against the same season last year.
• Queenstown Airport also enjoys strong growth, welcoming 14.4 per cent more air services than for the same season last year. Queenstown Airport has seen incredibly strong growth post pandemic; international air services to Queenstown for Northern Winter 25 are 37.2% ahead of Northern Winter 2019.
• Auckland Airport will see international services for Northern Winter grow by 6.4 per cent against those flown last year, as airlines grow ports beyond Auckland.
• Hamilton Airport will see international services this summer, as will Dunedin. Wellington Airport will also see international services increase by 5.2 per cent over those flown in the prior season.
