Qantas Group has announced its biggest trans-Tasman capacity boost in a decade, revealing on 14 January 2026 that it will deploy its brand-new Airbus A220 on Brisbane–Wellington flights from February 2026 and launch a Jetstar-operated Brisbane–Queenstown route in June 2026. Together with additional frequencies on Sydney–Auckland and Melbourne–Christchurch, the expansion will add almost 210,000 seats between Australia and New Zealand in the 2026 financial year.(qantasnewsroom.com.au)
The 137-seat A220 is 25 per cent more fuel-efficient than the E190 and 737-800 aircraft it replaces, reducing per-seat emissions and operating costs on the busy three-hour hop. Business-class travellers gain lie-flat seats and fast, free Wi-Fi, while economy passengers benefit from larger windows and USB-C power at every seat. The aircraft’s extended range also positions Brisbane as a future hub for Pacific island services—a key consideration ahead of the 2032 Olympics.(qantasnewsroom.com.au)
Jetstar’s new Brisbane–Queenstown flights will run three times a week during the June–October ski season, supported by one-way launch fares of A$249. Tourism Research Australia estimates that each seasonal rotation could inject A$5 million into Queensland’s visitor economy and support 50 hospitality jobs. Corporate travel managers welcome the route for its potential to cut door-to-door journey times for FIFO engineers servicing New Zealand construction projects.(qantasnewsroom.com.au)
![Qantas Unveils Trans-Tasman Growth: First A220 International Service and New Brisbane–Queenstown Route]()
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace framed the announcement as “a significant milestone” that cements the group’s post-pandemic rebound. The carrier will offer nearly 800,000 more trans-Tasman seats in FY-2026 than in the previous year, capitalising on demand that is already 12 per cent above pre-Covid levels. Additional capacity is expected to temper fare inflation, which has seen business-class returns on Sydney–Auckland hover near A$1,800 in peak periods.(qantasnewsroom.com.au)
Whether you’re flying for business or hopping across the Tasman for a ski weekend, you’ll still need the right paperwork. VisaHQ makes it easy to confirm if you require an Australian ETA, a New Zealand NZeTA or any other travel authorisation, and can process applications online in just a few clicks—saving you time at the airport. Explore the options at https://www.visahq.com/australia/.
For mobility programmes the message is clear: more seats, better aircraft and greater schedule flexibility reduce the risk of last-minute sell-outs on Australia–New Zealand shuttles. Companies should revisit preferred-airline agreements and update online-booking-tool inventories to capture the new flights. The A220’s lower carbon footprint may also help organisations meet Scope 3 emission-reduction targets without purchasing as many offsets.(qantasnewsroom.com.au)
The 137-seat A220 is 25 per cent more fuel-efficient than the E190 and 737-800 aircraft it replaces, reducing per-seat emissions and operating costs on the busy three-hour hop. Business-class travellers gain lie-flat seats and fast, free Wi-Fi, while economy passengers benefit from larger windows and USB-C power at every seat. The aircraft’s extended range also positions Brisbane as a future hub for Pacific island services—a key consideration ahead of the 2032 Olympics.(qantasnewsroom.com.au)
Jetstar’s new Brisbane–Queenstown flights will run three times a week during the June–October ski season, supported by one-way launch fares of A$249. Tourism Research Australia estimates that each seasonal rotation could inject A$5 million into Queensland’s visitor economy and support 50 hospitality jobs. Corporate travel managers welcome the route for its potential to cut door-to-door journey times for FIFO engineers servicing New Zealand construction projects.(qantasnewsroom.com.au)
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace framed the announcement as “a significant milestone” that cements the group’s post-pandemic rebound. The carrier will offer nearly 800,000 more trans-Tasman seats in FY-2026 than in the previous year, capitalising on demand that is already 12 per cent above pre-Covid levels. Additional capacity is expected to temper fare inflation, which has seen business-class returns on Sydney–Auckland hover near A$1,800 in peak periods.(qantasnewsroom.com.au)
Whether you’re flying for business or hopping across the Tasman for a ski weekend, you’ll still need the right paperwork. VisaHQ makes it easy to confirm if you require an Australian ETA, a New Zealand NZeTA or any other travel authorisation, and can process applications online in just a few clicks—saving you time at the airport. Explore the options at https://www.visahq.com/australia/.
For mobility programmes the message is clear: more seats, better aircraft and greater schedule flexibility reduce the risk of last-minute sell-outs on Australia–New Zealand shuttles. Companies should revisit preferred-airline agreements and update online-booking-tool inventories to capture the new flights. The A220’s lower carbon footprint may also help organisations meet Scope 3 emission-reduction targets without purchasing as many offsets.(qantasnewsroom.com.au)
