Qantas ramps up Trans-Tasman flights in time for ski season
Qantas has restarted four routes on the trans-Tasman network, Sydney to Queenstown and Wellington, and Melbourne to Christchurch and Wellington. Brisbane to Christchurch restarts on 24 May.
The first flights out are full, reflecting the strong demand from Australians to rediscover New Zealand for their winter holidays.
As part of the restart, Qantas will operate the first international flight into Queenstown in 330 days, with QF121 scheduled to touch down from Sydney at 2.30pm.
The airline will operate up to 20 weekly services to Queenstown from Australia. Capacity on the route is expected to reach 110 per cent of pre-COVID levels by July, with Australian travellers eager to hit the famous South Island slopes, providing a boost for the New Zealand tourism industry.
Qantas services from Melbourne and Brisbane to Queenstown recommence on 18 June. The addition of these flights sees Qantas return to its full pre-COVID trans-Tasman network.
Services to New Zealand are operated by a mix of Boeing 737-800 and wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft, which offer Business Suites with lay flat beds.
Qantas is seeing strong demand in both directions across the Tasman, with New Zealanders travelling across Qantas' extensive domestic and international network, including to and from London, Singapore and Bali.