Under their trans-Tasman alliance, Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia will add more than 30,000 seats between Queenstown and Australia between July to September. Together, the airlines will operate at least five additional return A320 services a week from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Air New Zealand’s deputy CEO Norm Thompson said the alliance will operate up to 30 direct trans-Tasman services to Queenstown a week during winter compared with nine weekly services during the ski season just five years ago.
“Year-on-year growth has placed Queenstown as New Zealand’s fastest-growing destination for Australian visitors. This is due in no small part to our significant increase in capacity over time,” Thompson added.
The capacity increase follows the launch last week of seasonal direct alliance services between Christchurch and Perth beginning in December.
