South to South: New Air New Zealand route to connect the South Island directly with South Australia
Air New Zealand will launch a seasonal Christchurch–Adelaide service, giving travellers a direct link between two vibrant cities and opening the door to more trans-Tasman adventures, on sale from 10am tomorrow.
Starting 27 October 2025, the service will operate twice a week on Monday and Friday through to 27 March 2026*, with around 15,000 seats available for travellers to book across the season. Fares start at $340 one way.
Operated by a narrowbody Airbus jet, the new route further strengthens Air New Zealand's commitment to growing connectivity across the Tasman and responding to strong demand for travel between Australia and New Zealand's South Island.
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran says the launch of this service marks another important step in the airline's growth strategy.
"We know there's strong demand for direct services between the South Island and Australia – not just for Kiwi travellers wanting to explore, but also to welcome more Australian tourists directly into the heart of the South Island.
"This route gives South Islanders more choice and convenience when flying to Australia, and it makes it even easier for Australians to access the incredible experiences New Zealand has to offer – from Queenstown and Fiordland to our world-class food and wine regions.
"Air New Zealand is entering an exciting new era. It's exciting to see growth in our short haul network, and customers can expect more good news on increased services in the near future. We're looking forward to welcoming more travellers onboard this summer."
Air New Zealand also operates between four and six weekly services between Auckland and Adelaide.
Tickets are available to book from 10am tomorrow at airnewzealand.co.nz.
Flight Details:
- Route: Christchurch (CHC) – Adelaide (ADL)
- Seasonal Period: First flight from CHC 27 October 2025 – last flight from CHC on 27 March 2026
- Frequency: Twice weekly (Monday and Friday)
- Aircraft: Narrowbody Airbus jet (A320/321 neo)
- Seats Available: ~15,000 across the season
*Subject to Regulatory Approval
ENDS
Issued by Air New Zealand Communications
Email: media@airnz.co.nz │ Phone: +64 21 747 320
About Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand's story started in 1940, first taking to the skies between Auckland and Sydney on a flying boat - a Short S30. Known for its warm Kiwi hospitality, today, the airline has operating aircraft ranging from Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus A320s to ATRs and Q300s, offering customers comfort in the latest most efficient jets and turboprops. It's a modern fuel-efficient fleet with an average age of 9.9 years. Air New Zealand's global network of passenger and cargo services centres around New Zealand. In 2024, the airline flew more than 16 million passengers. Air New Zealand was named 2025 World's Safest Airline by the Australian rating service AirlineRatings.com, highlighting the airline's laser-focus on safety.
Air New Zealand has a well-connected domestic business, connecting customers and cargo to 20 different regions around New Zealand. Internationally, the airline has direct flights to major cities across Australia, the Pacific Islands, Asia and North America, and through its strong relationships with alliance partners, offers customers more choice and convenience to connect further afield to hundreds of destinations. Air New Zealand has a particular focus on sustainability and its Sustainability Framework helps guide the airline's efforts in tackling some of New Zealand's and the world's most complex challenges. Airpoints, Air New Zealand's loyalty programme, is seen as the most valuable loyalty programme in New Zealand with more than 4 million members. It allows members to earn Airpoints Dollars™ and Status Points for VIP benefits in the air and on the ground. Air New Zealand aircraft are proudly identified by its distinct tail livery of the Mangōpare, the Māori symbol of the hammerhead shark which represents strength, tenacity, and resilience.
About Star Alliance
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, based on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition and seamless service. Since inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a focus on improving customer experience across the Alliance journey.
The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United.
Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 16,000 daily flights to almost 1,200 airports in 186 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partners Juneyao Airlines and THAI Smile Airways.
For more information about Air New Zealand visit www.airnewzealand.com and for more information about Star Alliance visit www.staralliance.com