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Auckland Airport says it has seen a “complete rebound” in Australian travel even as its international capacity remains below pre-COVID-19 levels.
The airport expects Australia to be its top international destination both inbound and outbound over the school holiday period, with other top markets including China, Fiji and the US. The country’s total international capacity is still 9 per cent below 2019.
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“We’re actively out there attracting airlines to New Zealand to support the government’s ambition for the local tourism industry and trade and there is strong interest in flying here. But the reality is it’s a globally competitive market in which these airlines are weighing up where to invest,” said Auckland Airport chief customer officer Scott Tasker.
“On some of our key long-haul routes to and from New Zealand, capacity is really tight, and this contrasts with the picture globally, where aviation fully recovered over 12 months ago.
“Even Australia has seen a complete rebound, averaging a four per cent capacity increase in 2025 over and above what they had back in 2019.”
The airport forecasts around 530,000 international travellers over the school holidays, with around 477,000 expected to travel domestically.
“Kiwis love to travel, whether that’s reconnecting with friends and family, taking a holiday in an exotic location, or building business connections face-to-face,” Tasker said.
“Australia is our top international destination over the holidays, with outbound travel from New Zealand across the trans-Tasman growing six per cent over the 12 months to June 2025.”
The news comes as Jetstar announces a major ramp-up in its New Zealand capacity, adding around 660,000 domestic and trans-Tasman seats.
The low-cost carrier will operate a seasonal Brisbane–Queenstown service from June to October next year, alongside new daily flights from Hamilton–Christchurch starting 1 December 2025, and will add around 500,000 annual seats on popular trans-Tasman and NZ domestic routes.
Among the changes, Auckland–Christchurch will go from eight to 11 daily flights; Auckland–Brisbane from 10 per week to twice daily; Auckland–Sydney from eight to 12 per week; Christchurch–Melbourne to daily year-round; and Auckland–Dunedin from seven to 10 per week.
It is the second major expansion in as many years, with the airline last year launching several new routes, bolstering capacity on others, and basing an eighth A320 in Christchurch.
Auckland Airport is currently in the midst of a NZ$3.9 billion terminal overhaul program, which will link the international and new domestic terminals, adding more capacity and simpler connections.
When completed in 2028–29, the integrated terminal will replace the old domestic terminal, much of which dates from the 1960s and 70s.
