Qantas Confirms Huge Expansion

The Qantas Group is committing big to expansion with more trans-Tasman flying in the future, alongside the first A220 international service.

The new routes include Jetstar, set to begin flying between Brisbane and Queenstown from June 2026, and is being launched with the intention of giving those in Queensland more choice to fly towards the popular ski location.

Service will operate on a seasonal basis, with flying to be offered between June and October, and the A320ceo, the current engine option model, will be flown thrice weekly, meaning 17,000 seats will be provided every ski season.

Additionally, there’ll be more service increases to meet demand, equating to almost 210,000 seats next year over the schedule offered this year.

For the low-cost division of Jetstar, there’ll be an increase from ten flights per week flying between Brisbane and Auckland to twice daily, resulting in almost 100,000 extra seats per year.

Melbourne to Christchurch will also increase to daily year-round, with now 26,000 more seats offered between the two popular cities.

2025 has been a huge year of growth already for the Qantas Group in New Zealand, and this latest expansion will provide even more choice and convenience for customers, as well an important boost for tourism economies on both sides of the Tasman.

Qantas International CEO, Cam Wallace

Lastly, for the low-cost division, Sydney to Auckland will increase from eight per week up to 12 per week every year, providing more than 75,000 seats from the 2025 schedule.

Qantas, meanwhile, will add up to additional flights during February and March between Sydney and Christchurch, adding 5,000 seats and responding to strong demand.

The Qantas route upgrades follow a May announcement where the airline confirmed it would boost Tasman flying as well for the summer holiday period of 2025/26.

Qantas Goes Big On The Airbus A220

One of the biggest announcements from this expansion, however, is the launch of international flying with the Airbus A220, a step in a new direction as part of fleet renewal.

The A220 will begin flying between Brisbane and Wellington from February 2026, marking the first international route and operating three times weekly, replacing an E190 that currently flies on the route and some Boeing 737 services.

For Qantas, the A220 is the like-for-like replacement to the Boeing 717, which was recently phased out, bringing the end of an era with the operation of the Boeing single-aisle jet used across regional and domestic services.

With the natural advancements of technology, the A220 brings a fresh new feel for customers. For the airline itself, it is a considerable upgrade on the outgoing and beloved 717, with significantly more range.

As described by airline executives, the A220 enables any market within Australia to be reached, something the 717 was not able to do.