Jetstar expands trans-Tasman flights and opens new regional routes to New Zealand

Jetstar carried more than 700,000 passengers across the Tasman in 2025, a 91% year-on-year increase driven by the addition of over 145,000 low-fare seats and four new point-to-point routes connecting Australia and New Zealand.

Route additions and capacity details

The carrier launched four new services in 2025—Cairns–Christchurch, Gold Coast–Hamilton, Sydney–Hamilton і Gold Coast–Dunedin—and announced a seasonal Brisbane–Queenstown service starting 15 June 2026. These routes expanded direct connections to regional destinations and increased seat availability for trans‑Tasman leisure travel.

Affordability as the key lever

Affordability underpinned the growth: Jetstar reported nearly 400,000 customers on trans-Tasman flights paying under £100 in 2025. The airline’s promotional push—20,000 fares from £64 one-way—aimed to stimulate inbound demand from Australia, New Zealand’s largest international market.

Regional impacts on tourism logistics

Adding capacity to secondary airports changes logistics for regional tourism operators. Increased seat frequency shortens lead times for inbound travellers, raises hotel occupancy predictability, and creates more regular demand for ground transfers, local guiding services and activity operators in places such as Hamilton, Dunedin and Queenstown.

Operator considerations

• Accommodation managers can anticipate more short-stay bookings and should consider flexible check-in/out options.
• Transport providers Need to coordinate peak arrival windows and scale driver availability.
• Tour operators should re-package short regional itineraries that connect directly with new flight arrival times.

What this means for travellers and tour demand

Direct low-fare connections make regional experiences more accessible to Australian visitors seeking weekend getaways or multi-centre trips. Expect stronger interest in adventure activities, eco-friendly wildlife safaris, and luxury adventure travel experiences that combine city stays with nearby natural attractions. Regional airports will increasingly function as gateways for niche tourism products such as rafting trips, guided museum tours and bespoke yacht charters.

Practical tips for planning

1. Book early for seasonal services (Brisbane–Queenstown) to secure the best fares and time slots.
2. Coordinate transfers with flight arrivals, especially for late-season or single-frequency routes.
3. Look for bundled offers that combine flights with local experiences to save on logistics and time.

From a travel‑services perspective, the new connections invite collaboration between carriers, regional tourism boards and local providers to create coherent products—day tours timed to flights, multi-day itineraries linked to arrival/departure patterns, and targeted promotions for off-peak periods.

Tourism Australia—are common. Tourism New Zealand in Australia—are likely to shift marketing focus towards lesser‑visited regions of Aotearoa, which in turn supports local hospitality and tour suppliers by smoothing demand and increasing visibility.

Key highlights include the significant seat growth, the opening of previously underserved point‑to-point links, and the clear affordability signal to Australian travellers. Still, even the best reviews and the most honest feedback can’t truly replace personal experience. On GetExperience, you book your experience from verified providers at reasonable prices. This empowers travellers to make the most informed decision without unnecessary expenses or disappointments, with secure online payments and voucher confirmation issued afterwards, plus options to submit bespoke tour requests to match your preferences — Book now GetExperience.com

In summary, Jetstar’s trans‑Tasman expansion in 2025 raised capacity across several regional New Zealand gateways, improved affordability for Australian visitors, and created fresh operational and commercial opportunities for local tourism stakeholders. Travellers can expect easier access to regional experiences—from museum tours with live guides and adventure rafting trips for beginners to exclusive yacht charters and safari tours—while tour operators and accommodation providers should align capacity and products with new flight schedules to capture demand. The move underscores the interplay of logistics, route planning and tourism product development in shaping modern travel experiences and adventure activities.