Abandoned flight route to New Zealand back with big sale
Virgin Australia is flying back into a popular destination for the first time since March 2020 and they have a big sale to celebrate.
Virgin Australia has finally relaunched its flight back into New Zealand after more than a year and half off from the popular trans-Tasman route.
The route was cancelled at the beginning of the Covid pandemic in March 2020, when the airline ditched all of their international flights.
Wednesday marked the first flights back across the Tasman, with passengers now able to travel from Sydney and Brisbane to Queenstown daily.
Flights from Melbourne into the picturesque city on the South Island will kick off on Thursday, with services four times a week, increasing to daily between December 12 and January 29.
Flights are priced from $539 economy one-way and $799 business class one-way.
However, for passengers hoping to grab a bargain, there are 15,000 economy fares from just $409 return up for grabs.
“Today is a significant day for Virgin Australia with our first New Zealand flight in over two years,” Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said.
“Australians and New Zealanders have a close bond and we are proud to be creating a new gateway between the countries for friends and family to visit each other, businesses to flourish and holiday-makers to seek adventure with more choice and great value airfares.”
Virgin delayed relaunching flights back into New Zealand – even with the establishment of the trans-Tasman travel bubble last year – due to subdued demand.
The airline said on Wednesday the demand for flights to Queenstown was now strong.
“We are seeing strong demand across our international network over the Christmas school holiday period,” Virgin Australia Group chief strategy officer Alistair Hartley said.
“Our flights to Queenstown will increase to 21 per week between 12 December and 29 January … We are excited to be back on the arrivals board in Queenstown and we look forward to providing travellers more choice.”
Virgin has also this year announced the recommencement of services to Bali (including new direct services from the Gold Coast) and Fiji, and direct services to Vanuatu and Samoa.
This writer travelled to Queenstown as a guest of Virgin Australia
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