Taking on the Tasman: Air New Zealand increasing flights to Australia and beyond

Air New Zealand has announced that it will be cranking up the capacity of its short-haul routes for the forthcoming southern summer season at the end of 2025. The carrier has announced a large increase in seats across the Tasman Sea to points in Australia as well as to select destinations across the Pacific Islands.

Between October 2025 and March 2026, the airline says it will operate 1.7 million seats between New Zealand and Australia, cementing its position as the largest trans-Tasman carrier. The airline will add 130,000 seats as a result of increased flight frequencies and the deployment of more widebody aircraft on key routes. There will also be an uplift in premium seating to meet strong demand from both business and leisure travellers, says the airline.

Across the season, Air New Zealand will add 8% more premium seats on its short-haul network, and it will have up to 42 flights each week on widebody jets to Australia. But it is not just Australian destinations that will benefit from the upgrading of services. Additionally, the airline will add over 25,000 extra seats to the Pacific Islands this summer, supporting continued growth and connectivity across the region.

Toshi K / ShutterstockAir New Zealand Chief Commercial Officer Jeremy O’Brien says with demand growing, Air New Zealand is upping the ante across the Tasman.

“With more aircraft back in service and demand heating up, we’re stepping up our services across the Tasman,” said O’Brien. “This isn’t just about flying more often. It’s about giving our customers better options, more comfort, and more reasons to choose Air New Zealand. We’re expanding our premium offering and strengthening our network across both Australia and the Pacific.”

“Air New Zealand has a proud 85-year history of flying across the Tasman. Our first flight to Sydney took off in 1940, and we’re incredibly proud of that longevity. Our commitment to keeping New Zealand and Australia connected is as strong as ever. “We’re excited to see our new Christchurch to Adelaide route take off later this year, add 30,000 seats on our Auckland to Perth route, celebrate 30 years of flying directly between Queenstown and Sydney in July, and to keep delivering the uniquely Kiwi experience our customers love – on both sides of the ditch,” O’Brien added.

Ryan Fletcher / ShutterstockRoute specifics

On the airline’s Auckland–Perth route, nearly 30,000 additional seats will be offered, adding 29% capacity and increasing from daily flights to nine services per week. Auckland to Sydney will see similar increases, with an additional 25,000 seats, including 7,500 premium seats being offered, up by 20%, with up to 13 widebody services per week.

On Auckland to Melbourne, 16,000 seats are to be added, including up to 13 widebody services per week, while on Auckland to Brisbane, an additional 18,400 seats will be added with daily widebody flights and an increase in services during peak periods. There will be a 12% increase in seats between Auckland and Gold Coast, adding 8,500 seats across the season with 11 weekly services over summer.

GCMap.comElsewhere, the airline’s Queenstown to Sydney route will celebrate 30 years of direct connection with a 26% increase of 9,600 seats, going from daily to nine flights a week over the December 2025 to February 2026 peak period, while Christchurch to Melbourne will see a 14% increase, with 9,500 added seats and more than 400 flights between the cities across the peak summer season.

The Pacific Islands

Lastly, in terms of routes to the Pacific islands, Auckland to Rarotonga will enjoy an additional 8,000 seats over the season, with between 11 and 12 weekly services over the peak summer period. Auckland to Nadi will see 8,600 seats added, with up to 11 flights per week, and finally, Auckland to Papeete will see an additional 1,600 seats, with a 37% increase in premium seating due to strong demand for these services.

According to ch-aviation, Air New Zealand currently operates a fleet of 113 aircraft. Although some of its Airbus fleet is affected by issues with their Pratt & Whitney engines while its Boeing 787-9s have been affected by issues with their Rolls-Royce Trent engines. The airline currently serves 77 routes to 48 destinations across 17 countries.

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