In a heartening announcement for travellers, Qantas and Jetstar have shared plans to boost their flight schedules between Australia and New Zealand.
This move comes following the confirmation that New Zealand will reopen for quarantine-free travel to all Australian travellers from next month. Good news for those planning to visit loved ones or explore the breathtaking landscapes of NZ during the Easter holidays.
Starting from the 13th of April, Qantas and Jetstar will ramp up their services, operating as many as 30 return flights per week across five routes.
This is a significant increase from the current schedule of two return flights per week, reflecting the pent-up demand for travel across the Tasman.
Pre-pandemic, the airlines together operated more than 170 return services each week, showing the potential for future growth.
Travellers will have plenty of options to choose from, with Qantas offering daily flights from Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney to Auckland, and from Sydney to Christchurch. These flights will be serviced by a mix of Boeing 737s and wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft.
Jetstar isn’t being left out, with three weekly flights from the Gold Coast to Auckland using their Airbus A320 aircraft.
Qantas will fly daily from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney to Auckland and Sydney to Christchurch with a mix of its Boeing 737s and wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft.
Jetstar will operate three weekly flights from the Gold Coast to Auckland using its Airbus A320 aircraft.
And it doesn’t stop there. In May and June, both airlines are planning to further increase their flight frequency and reintroduce flights from Australia to Queenstown and Wellington.
For those looking to connect beyond the major cities, Jetstar’s New Zealand domestic network offers more than 60 return flights per week to five destinations. Not to mention, Qantas’ Australian domestic routes and extensive international network will also connect seamlessly with these trans-Tasman flights.
Avid frequent flyers can rejoice as well. Eligible passengers will have access to Qantas’ Sydney and Melbourne International First and Business lounges, as well as the Brisbane International Lounge, for some pre-flight relaxation.
In addition, Qantas’ Fly Flexible booking policy is offering peace of mind to travellers. This policy allows for unlimited flight date changes on trans-Tasman flights booked before 30 June for travel until 31 December 2022 (fare difference may apply).
Throughout May, every flight will become a Points Plane, meaning you can use your Qantas Points to book any seat as a Classic Reward Seat.
Additionally, Qantas has upped the availability of seats that can be booked with points on their trans-Tasman routes by up to 50% for the rest of the year.
Classic Flight Reward seats start from 18,000 points with Qantas and 14,400 with Jetstar, plus taxes, fees and carrier charges.
So, if you’ve been dreaming of a New Zealand getaway or reuniting with loved ones, now is the time to start planning. Thanks to Qantas and Jetstar, the Tasman seems a little less wide today.
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