Qantas boosts transtasman holiday season flights

Currency declines on both sides of the Tasman are lifting domestic travel in both New Zealand and Australia.

It is also boosting transtasman travel because purchasing power is unaffected by the lower dollar in both countries.

Qantas is forecasting stronger demand in the summer season and is adding an extra 95 return services to New Zealand during the peak travel period.

These are in addition to the 15 seasonal services from Sydney to Christchurch and Queenstown that recently went on sale, 

The new services are 48 return flights between Brisbane and Christchurch and 36 return services between Brisbane and Wellington from December 3 to February 22, 2016.

Qantas' executive manager international sales, Stephen Thompson, says the new seasonal flights are possible because of the "support of the teams at Brisbane, Christchurch and Wellington airports."

Both New Zealand airports say the new services will boost tourism.

Wellington Airport chief executive Steve Sanderson says the service will provide new flight options and competitive fares.

“Competition is exciting for travellers and we expect huge demand for the new Qantas service to Brisbane. It will be the only full service airline on one of our most popular holiday destinations at its busiest time of year,” he says.

Christchurch Airport's chief commercial officer – aeronautical, Justin Watson, says the extra flights will mean an additional 16,128 seats between Christchurch and Brisbane, 12% more seats than the corresponding period last year.

“Last year we had almost 60,000 visitors from Queensland fly into the South Island via Christchurch, which was 5.6% more than the previous year, so there is no doubt the demand is there and growing," he says.

“Forecasts suggest the service will bring another ,200 visitors to the South Island, most of them Australians.  

“Qantas hasn’t flown between Christchurch and Brisbane for ten years,"

Both airports note the new services will also benefit those travelling further than the Tasman, with onward connections to Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Los Angeles.

“We have seen over 15% growth in international traffic this year, which is exceptional, and the Qantas route to Brisbane will be our fourth new international service," Mr Sanderson says.

Qantas is also introducing a daily flight from Perth to Singapore from November 30 to February 21, 2016 and a fifth weekly service between Sydney and Jakarta from December 7 to January 10, 2016.

In total, this extra capacity will add more than 140 flights to Qantas flights between December and February.

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