Qantas boosts flights to New Zealand

Qantas has announced a major summer uplift for New Zealand and Christchurch Airport is the big winner with a 47% increase in the number of flights to Sydney and a 26% increase in flights to Melbourne. From 15 December to 26 January, Qantas will operate up to seven additional flights per week to Sydney and up to three additional flights per week to Melbourne, taking a significant share of an up to 20% increase in the airline’s trans-Tasman schedule. Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Justin Watson says the extra flights build on Qantas’ strong presence at the airport. “This is fantastic news; it shows Qantas recognises the strength of the Christchurch and the South Island market. These extra flights are a win for tourism, trade and travel. They’ll help businesses thrive and give Kiwis even more options.” Christchurch Airport’s General Manager Aeronautical Development, Gordon Bevan, says the boost will be felt across the region. “Aussies can’t get enough of the South Island, and now it’s even easier for them to fly straight here. More flights mean more visitors, more spending, and more benefits for our economy.” Christchurch NZ Chief Executive Ali Adams says “This is fantastic news for Ōtautahi Christchurch, it will give local businesses in our tourism sector a summer boost, while also supporting the city’s exporters and innovators. Christchurch is an exciting destination right now and we can’t wait to welcome more of our Australian neighbours to come play in our beautiful city and region.” Melbourne Airport sets new April record Melbourne Airport welcomed more than one million international travellers in April as Australians took advantage of the proximity of the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends. In total, 3.11 million passengers passed through the airport’s terminals in April, marking an 8 per cent increase compared to the same time last year and setting a new April record. International traveller numbers grew by 16 per cent to 1,026,386 – another record for April and marking the first time that international traveller numbers have surpassed one million in April. Domestic passenger volumes rose by 4 per cent to more than two million. Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos said the numbers highlighted the city’s strong position as a global aviation hub and underscored the need for future-proofed infrastructure. “April’s figures are a strong reminder that Melburnians love to travel – and the demand for both international and domestic flights continues to grow,” he said. “The back-to-back public holidays in the midst of school holidays created a blockbuster travel period, and travellers clearly made the most of it. We also welcomed around 16,000 delegates attending the Amway China Leadership Seminar, an event hosted in Melbourne in April. Events like this are a powerful reminder of how important destination marketing is. In an increasingly competitive global market, attracting major international delegations and conferences to Melbourne has significant benefits for our visitor economy, from hotels and restaurants to transport and tourism operators. To keep pace with demand, we’re working with our airlines to deliver an expansion of the international terminal and a third runway to ensure our airfield has the capacity to serve Victoria’s growing population.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]