Has the date been revealed when Qantas will muscle in on another Air New Zealand route?

Wednesday, 16 April 2025

There has been ongoing speculation that Qantas will restart a trans-Tasman route in competition with Air New Zealand, and now a possible date for the service to begin has been revealed.

The AeroRoutes website, which tracks worldwide airline schedule and network changes, has posted details of the Auckland-Perth service by the Australian carrier.

It said flights on the airline’s A330s will start on December 7 and will be three times a week. QF111 will take off from Perth at 5pm (all local times) and will land in Auckland the next day at 4.45am. The return flight, QF112, leaves at 8.30am and arrives in Western Australia at 11.30am.

Qantas would not comment on the speculation, although AeroRoutes added that an announcement “is now scheduled later this week”.

The Australian carrier last flew the route in January 2018. Malaysian operator Batik Air’s service used to fly direct between the two cities, but the service was suspended due to “operational requirements”.

Last year, Tourism Western Australia acting managing director Stephanie Underwood said Qantas would introduce direct flights between Auckland and Perth in 2025.

“Air New Zealand operates daily flights between Auckland and Perth, and Qantas offers flights via east coast gateway cities. Qantas recently announced they are exploring non-stop services between Auckland and Perth to launch in 2025, which would make travel even easier.”

It wouldn’t be the first time Qantas has muscled in on a route held by Air New Zealand. The airline has taken on the Kiwi carrier on the direct Auckland to New York service.