Qantas has made a significant return to international services from Adelaide with the launch of its first direct flights to Auckland in over ten years. The inaugural flight took off this morning, marking the beginning of more travel options and opportunities for South Australians. This new route operation is set to run seasonally until early May.
Qantas CEO International Cam Wallace shared, “South Australians can now reach New York in around 21 hours and with just one stop via Auckland on our QF3 service, while the new route also opens up greater opportunities for inbound connections throughout South Australia and beyond through our domestic network.
“We’ve seen significant growth across our international network over the past 18 months and we’re pleased to bring more of that choice and connectivity to South Australia.”
South Australia’s Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison MP, added, “This new service direct to Auckland will further strengthen our State’s access to New Zealand, our fourth largest tourism market which has seen huge growth, up 42 per cent on the last year to contribute $93 million to South Australia’s economy. This service also provides greater access to another key global market in North America – worth $118 million to our State – as it connects through to New York City with a single stop.”
The service, marked as QF175, will operate four times per week on Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, utilising a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Each journey is set to take approximately four hours and 15 minutes, offering fast and free Wi-Fi to all passengers. Plus, the airline’s recent promotional efforts include a major sale with one-way Economy fares from Adelaide to Auckland priced from $359, applicable for travel between February and May 2026.
Adelaide Airport Managing Director Brenton Cox shared, “We’re excited to welcome Qantas’ international return to Adelaide. This is a much-anticipated milestone, which helps meet the growing customer demand for travel between Adelaide and New Zealand. Along with a direct service to Auckland, the service opens up a one-stop connection with New York.”
Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive René de Monchy added, “It’s fantastic to welcome back Qantas’ direct flights from Adelaide to Aotearoa New Zealand. With 1.47 million Australians visiting New Zealand over the past year, these direct services play a vital role in strengthening connectivity and making trans-Tasman travel even more seamless.”
This service is sure to contribute significantly to both tourism and economic growth in South Australia and New Zealand alike.
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