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Air New Zealand has launched a new seasonal service between Queenstown and Brisbane, adding 16,500 seats to its trans-Tasman network and boosting direct access to the South Island.
The first flight departed on June 22, with the three-times-weekly service operating until October 23, 2026.
Air New Zealand general manager short haul and domestic Lucy Hall says the airline has increased capacity between Australia’s east coast and Queenstown by 40 per cent this winter.
“The increase in capacity and addition of our Queenstown–Brisbane route reflects the airline’s commitment to growing where Kiwi travellers want to go and providing more opportunities for visitors to access the beautiful South Island directly.
“These additional seats will not only help New Zealanders access Brisbane and Queensland more easily but will also support tourism in the South.”
The service coincides with the New Zealand and Queensland July school holidays, with Air New Zealand expecting to carry more than 730,000 passengers across its domestic and international networks during the holiday period.
Queenstown is forecast to be the airline’s busiest domestic destination over the school holidays, while Wellington is expected to welcome more than 12,500 visitors for the All Blacks’ July 11 test against Italy.
