Air New Zealand will launch two new routes across the Tasman from December this year and add an extra 15% seat capacity across all its Tasman services year on year.

The airline has today announced the schedule it will operate across the Tasman after calling time on its alliance with Virgin Australia last week.

From 18 December 2018, Air New Zealand will operate up to four times a week between Queenstown and Brisbane, increasing the airline’s total international capacity out of the resort town by 20 percent. It will also operate up to five times a week between Wellington and Brisbane, a 15 percent increase or 20,000 seats.

In addition to the new routes, Air New Zealand is adding significant extra trans-Tasman capacity into and out of Christchurch from 28 October 2018. This includes moving to double daily on peak days of the week to both Melbourne and Brisbane, and double daily Monday to Friday for Sydney. This represents a 15% increase in capacity or about 35,000 extra seats on Christchurch trans-Tasman routes alone.

Air New Zealand will also offer 125,000 additional trans-Tasman seats ex Auckland, including a new business timed morning flight to Melbourne, more evening flights to Brisbane and a new middle of the day flight to Sydney.

Fares are on sale now for both the new routes and the additional seat capacity.

Meanwhile all customers booked on an Air New Zealand ticket to travel on a Virgin Australia aircraft after 27 October 2018 will be moved across to Air New Zealand operated services in the next few weeks. There is no need for customers to do anything; they will be contacted by either the airline or their booking agent regarding any changes.