NEW SOUTH WALES- Qantas (QF) and its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar (JQ) are ramping up their presence in New Zealand, signaling a deeper strategic expansion beyond the Trans-Tasman market.
The airline is not only boosting its domestic operations but also hinting at a possible return of its long-haul Auckland (AKL) to Los Angeles (LAX) route, which was discontinued in 2012.
Photo: James St. John | Flickr
Qantas New Zealand Expansion
Following the post-COVID recovery, Qantas Group has grown its Trans-Tasman capacity by 23%, surpassing Air NZ in total seat offerings. The growth has been particularly strong in the following places where Qantas sees additional opportunities for expansion.
Wellington (WLG)
Christchurch (CHC)
Queenstown (ZQN)
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace stated that the airline increasingly views New Zealand as an integral part of its home market, reported The Post. The carrier has been steadily increasing its capacity, using Auckland Airport (AKL) as an eastern hub for flights to North America.
According to Wallace, Qantas now flies more across the Tasman than Air New Zealand (NZ), capturing over 50% of total seat capacity compared to Air NZ’s 45%.
Wallace, a former Air New Zealand executive, emphasized that these are the most favorable operating conditions in years.
He added that Qantas’ strong financial position and available aircraft have allowed it to add new routes and frequencies while its rival continues to face aircraft shortages and maintenance constraints.
Photo: Tobias Gudat
Using New Zealand as a Hub
Auckland is fast emerging as Qantas’ secondary hub for long-haul connectivity. The airline is utilizing AKL to channel traffic from Australia’s eastern cities to North America, particularly to New York (JFK).
Qantas now operates double the capacity of Air New Zealand on the Auckland–New York route and has been outperforming its rival in the U.S. market.
Furthermore, Qantas’ upcoming Project Sunrise aircraft—designed for ultra-long-haul flights—will first be tested on services between Sydney (SYD) and Auckland before being deployed on nonstop routes from Sydney to London (LHR) and New York.
This testing phase highlights New Zealand’s growing strategic importance for Qantas’ international network.
Photo: By Bidgee – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72800554
Potential Route Restorations
Industry reports suggest Qantas may reinstate its Auckland–Los Angeles route when additional aircraft become available. The route has proven profitable for Air New Zealand, and Qantas’ expansionist strategy makes it a likely candidate for revival.
The airline is also considering expanding flights from New Zealand to the Pacific Islands, potentially to Samoa (APW) and Tonga (TBU).
Jetstar has already increased domestic operations within New Zealand, adding capacity to Dunedin (DUD) and introducing competition on the Christchurch–Hamilton (HLZ) route. However, regional Jetstar services remain suspended, with no plans for reactivation.
Photo: Qantas
Bottom Line
Qantas’ growing dominance in New Zealand underscores its evolving strategy to treat the country as part of its extended home market.
From increased Trans-Tasman capacity to plans for new routes and Project Sunrise testing, the airline’s ambitions are clear.
With financial strength and fleet flexibility on its side, Qantas is poised to challenge Air New Zealand on multiple fronts, both domestically and internationally.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News