Air New Zealand confirms it will fly into Australia's brand new multibillion-dollar airport

Wednesday, 11 June 2025

Air New Zealand has confirmed it will fly into Australia’s brand new multi-billion-dollar airport.

The national carrier will connect Auckland and Western Sydney, opening a new trans-Tasman gateway.

The deal is still subject to relevant regulatory approvals but it is hoped the service will begin in mid-2027. The A$5.3 billion (NZ$5.7 billion) airport is due to open next year.

Air NZ chief executive Greg Foran said the new route will offer Kiwis a choice of Sydney airports.

“We’re delighted to be the first trans-Tasman carrier to signal our intent to operate there as we continue to grow,” said Foran.

“It’s a great opportunity to grow our network and better serve the rapidly expanding Western Sydney region. This new route reflects our commitment to making travel more convenient for our customers and supporting stronger connections between New Zealand and Australia.”

Currently, the only other airlines which have also confirmed to use Western Sydney are Qantas, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines.

The new hub is designed to accommodate 10 million passengers a year by 2030, but that will be scaled up later to more than 80 million travellers annually, reported the Australian Financial Review.

The Western Sydney Airport will operate 24 hours, and CEO Simon Hickey said it will give Kiwis “more choice on when and how they choose to fly”.

It’s been a big few weeks of announcements by Air New Zealand. It will begin a seasonal twice-weekly Christchurch–Adelaide service from October 27 through to March 27, 2026.

Air New Zealand also announced 36 new flights between Auckland and Christchurch between June and October, adding 14,600 seats to their schedule.