Wedoany.com Report-Dec.11, Air New Zealand will add 63,000 extra seats on flights between Brisbane and New Zealand from March to October 2026, responding to strong trans-Tasman travel demand. The airline will increase capacity by using larger aircraft and adding more frequencies on existing routes.

Specific increases include a 12% rise on Brisbane–Auckland services and 7% growth on both Brisbane–Christchurch and Brisbane–Wellington routes. A new seasonal direct service between Brisbane and Queenstown will also operate from June to October 2026.

Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff welcomed the expansion. "More seats mean more opportunities for people to travel across the ditch, whether it is for trade, tourism or connecting with family and friends. We know the connection between Australia and Aotearoa is strong, and the seasonal uplift will make it even easier for Queenslanders and Kiwis to connect."

Air New Zealand General Manager Australia, Kathryn O'Brien, highlighted two-way demand. "Queenslanders continue to show strong interest in travelling across the Tasman[…] Brisbane is also a popular city for Kiwi expats[…] Increasing capacity and adding a new Queenstown service gives travellers even more choice and flexibility, while supporting the growing connectivity we are seeing in and out of Brisbane."

Queensland Tourism Minister Andrew Powell described the development as beneficial for the state. "Queensland is the home of the holiday—and it belongs on every traveller's bucket list," Powell said. "As part of Destination 2045, we promised to secure more strategic connections to make it easier for tourists to visit Queensland, and that's what we're delivering.”

The additional services are supported by both Brisbane Airport and the Queensland Government. New Zealand remains Brisbane Airport’s largest international market by passenger volume.

Separately, Air New Zealand will open The Lookout Lounge at Auckland International Airport on 12 December 2025. Located on Level 2 near departure gates, the new facility will operate daily during peak hours (5:00–10:00 am and 3:30–9:15 pm) and provide extra space for eligible passengers during the busy summer period.

Air New Zealand General Manager Customer, Alisha Armstrong, said: "As we head into our busiest travel season, The Lookout Lounge will give our customers more space and comfort before they head overseas. It's a friendly and relaxed environment influenced by the very best of Aotearoa."

The Lookout Lounge will run alongside the existing Koru Lounge while major redevelopment of the permanent Koru facilities takes place in two phases starting in 2026. The new Koru Premier Lounge is scheduled to open in 2027, followed by the refreshed main Koru Lounge later that year.

These capacity and facility enhancements apply only to passenger air transport services and do not affect cargo movements, imports, or domestic consumption patterns in either country. The initiatives support continued growth in tourism and business travel between Queensland and New Zealand.