Is flying Jetstar always cheaper than Air New Zealand?

Monday, 5 May 2025

Consumer NZ says domestic airfares have risen almost 300 percent in recent times.

Air New Zealand was criticised last week for the cost of its domestic airfares, after a screenshot comparing the national carrier’s prices with those of Jetstar showed significant cost discrepancies between the airlines.

The online post showed that Air New Zealand airfares on the Auckland to Christchurch route were between four and seven times more expensive than Jetstar’s.

Air New Zealand defended its prices, saying their fares reflected the “true cost of flying”.

The cost of domestic airfares have been under fire.

But were these price differences representative of all routes, or was it just an outlier Stuff decided to take a closer look at the two airlines, picking three popular routes and focussing on one-way fares on May 19.

Auckland to Christchurch

This is one of the busiest routes in New Zealand and was the focus of the original criticism. On further investigation, it appeared the price difference was not just a blip.

Jetstar’s cheapest fare - $50 (4.10pm, 6.30pm, 7.50pm)
Jetstar’s most expensive fare - $270 (4.05pm)

Flights on the Auckland to Christchurch route.

Air NZ’s cheapest fare - $110 (8pm, 8.45pm)
Air NZ’s most expensive fare - $414 (7.30am, 8.30am, 9am)

Even the most expensive Jetstar fare, a 4.05pm flight for $270, was cheaper than most Air New Zealand flights on offer.

Air New Zealand’s cheapest flight on this date, on the other hand, is $110 for two evening flights.

Auckland to Wellington

What about Auckland to Wellington? Perhaps a shorter distance could make a difference in the prices and bring the airlines closer together?

Not exactly.

Jetstar’s cheapest fare - $44 (6am)

Jetstar’s most expensive fare - $159 (10.30am)
Air NZ’s cheapest fare - $109 (9pm)
Air NZ’s most expensive fare - $455 (10.10am)

When Air New Zealand offered up its veteran pilot and chief of flight operations and safety, David Morgan, to do some aviation myth-busting - Explainer Editor Lloyd Burr jumped at the chance.

For flights around the same time, you are still looking at a big price discrepancy.

In this instance, a Jetstar flight at 4.05pm is being advertised for $64, while an Air New Zealand flight at 4pm is $189. That is still three times the Jetstar fare.

Wellington to Christchurch

Let’s move cities, then, and see if this impacts prices.

Early morning and evening flights on Jetstar on the Wellington to Christchurch route are being advertised for $70, half the price of Air New Zealand’s lowest airfare at $141, and it’s a similar story at the pricier end.

Jetstar’s cheapest fare - $70 (8.15am, 7.40pm)
Jetstar’s most expensive fare - $283 (8.30am)
Air NZ’s cheapest fare - $141 (7.05pm)
Air NZ’s most expensive fare - $465 (11.15am)

What does this all mean?

The comparison shows there are some significant price discrepancies between the two airlines on multiple domestic routes, though there are always a number of factors that come into play when it comes to costs, including the route, flight time, and whether you have a flexi deal attached to your fare.

Jetstar has told Stuff that they are “laser focused on keeping operating costs and fares low so our customers can continue to fly for less”, while Air New Zealand has said that the operational costs of flying have gone up by 30% since 2020.

They said operating a flight involves many costs that are factored into fares. These include maintenance, airport charges, CAA charges, and labour costs.

Air NZ’s chief financial officer, Richard Thomson, told Stuff last week that the airline had experienced more cost inflation in the past three years than was typically seen in a decade, with Covid, a weak New Zealand dollar and geopolitics all to blame.

The airline says they have done their best to try to absorb the cost increases.

An earlier version of this story included a comparison of prices on flights from Christchurch to Queenstown, which Jetstar does not fly directly. (Amended May 5 at 6.20pm)