Prices set to drop for flights to Australia as airline competition heats up
Monday, 24 June 2024
Jetstar has announced it will fly to the Sunshine Coast from Auckland and to Cairns from Christchurch.
Air New Zealand also announced its seasonal service to the Sunshine Coast would start on Wednesday.
House of Travel COO Brent Thomas said the competition would keep prices low for the popular destination.
It will soon be cheaper to lap up the sun across the Tasman as Jetstar and Air New Zealand compete for passengers to Australia’s Sunshine Coast.
Jetstar has announced year-round flights to Maroochydore from Auckland from December, 2024 and Air New Zealand said its seasonal thrice-weekly Auckland to Sunshine Coast service will return from Wednesday until October 2024.
House of Travel chief operating officer Brent Thomas told Stuff Travel it was exciting news.
“Queensland is the number one destination out of New Zealand so when you have increased capacity like this, what will happen is it will stimulate even further demand.
“Where you've got competition, we know we're going to get some really good pricing. That creates the opportunity for New Zealanders to travel to what is one of the popular destinations.”
With both carriers fighting for passengers, Thomas said the airlines will try to keep their fares as low as possible.
“What happens in the airline industry is they sell out a certain class and then people have to go up to the next class or fare and pay an additional price for effectively the same seat and the same product. Where you have competition, there are obviously more of those cheaper seats available and so consumers are the winner.”
Thomas said Queensland was an all-year-round destination for travellers.
“The Sunshine Coast is an extremely popular part of it as well. So we definitely see an increase in numbers going there with this increased capacity. It's a boom for the New Zealand traveller.
“It is a great place to go. For all kind of trips. Whatever you want to do. Family, couples, you know, relaxing, activities. Everything's there.”
Thomas said the routes were a sign of pre-Covid capacities coming back into the market.
“We're just seeing now that we are back beyond the 2019 levels of New Zealanders travelling overseas and so the airlines are now responding to that demand for that close-to-home short holiday destination where you know what you're going to get.”
Jetstar also announced it will fly between Christchurch and Cairns, in Northern Queensland.
“It will be attractive for all the South Island to come to Christchurch and then to go directly to Cairns rather than having to potentially do two flights as they currently do, or even worse in some cases,” Thomas said.
Christchurch will also get more domestic flights from there to Auckland with Jetstar, which also increased flights from Auckland to Wellington.
“Having additional capacity definitely makes an impact on pricing,” Thomas said, “and we've got a choice of airline, especially with more capacity coming in with Jetstar. It is going to make a difference to the traveller.”
“Airlines are going to have to price as such to fill that extra capacity as well. So it is good for the New Zealand traveller.
Board of Airline Representatives executive director Cath O’Brien told Stuff Travel it was great to see additional services coming into the New Zealand market.
“New Zealand has yet to recover its pre-pandemic international connectivity and any additional flying is welcome news for travellers.”
Thomas said House of Travel was seeing more New Zealanders travelling this year than last year, with bookings for 2025 looking “extremely strong,” despite a slowing economy.
Will you be booking a holiday to Cairns or the Sunshine Coast? Let us know in the comments.