06 May 2025
Competition to Western Australia has arrived with the news that Qantas will begin flying between Auckland and Perth and on to Johannesburg from December 2025. Operating an A330, Qantas will fly the route three times a week from Auckland.
Auckland Airport Chief Customer Officer Scott Tasker said the announcement by Qantas to begin flying through to Perth and Johannesburg is wonderful news not just for Kiwi travellers but also New Zealand’s own tourism industry. Aside from a period when Malaysian airline Batik Air flew between Auckland and Perth, Air NZ has been the only carrier flying directly to and from Perth since early 2018.
“Not only is competition on the Perth route a real win for travellers it’s also the first time we’ve had such a good connection between New Zealand and South Africa. The service via Perth through to Johannesburg provides great connectivity for the 96,000 South Africans who call New Zealand home – nearly 40% living in Auckland.
“We have very strong links with Western Australia with around 76,000 Kiwi living there and 48,000 New Zealanders visiting the state every year,” said Mr Tasker.
“For travellers, both Perth and Johannesburg are vibrant city destinations, offering a mix of history, culture and famous sports venues, while also providing the jumping off point to areas of spectacular natural beauty and unique wildlife experiences.
“Plus, with the Qantas network it’s possible to head on to London, Paris or Rome and more, after your Perth touchdown,” said Mr Tasker.
“For our own tourism industry, the new Qantas service opens the local market to more in-bound visitation. Auckland Airport has been working hard to bring more capacity on our international routes – we’re still nearly 10% short of where we were pre-pandemic – so today’s news will be welcomed by our tourism operators given it adds another 77,000 seats to the network. It also aligns well with our strategy of working alongside regional tourism organisations to grow visitation from Australia.”
New Zealand’s export and trade links will also be bolstered with an additional 4,000 tonnes of cargo capacity.
ENDS