Virgin’s loss is gain for Qantas on New Zealand routes

Qantas has added more flights to its trans-Tasman schedule in response to the demand for seats when the two-way bubble begins.

Australians will soon be able to undertake quarantine free travel to New Zealand, six months after Kiwis were given the same privilege in Australia. Picture: David Gray/AFP

Qantas has added more flights across the Tasman to its schedule in response to the demand for seats and Virgin Australia’s surprise decision to postpone the resumption of services to New Zealand.

Within hours of the announcement by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern that a two-way travel bubble would open from April 19, Qantas and Jetstar had scheduled more than 120 flights a week.

On Wednesday, another 20 return flights a week were added between May and October, to cover the period in which Virgin Australia has decided not to operate due to the complexity of border requirements and the airline’s focus on domestic routes.

A Qantas spokeswoman said they were seeing strong demand from Australia to all destinations in New Zealand, and in particular Auckland and Queenstown.

Heading in the other direction, Sydney and Melbourne were most popular with Kiwis.

“Ski season is proving to be very strong which is driving the increase to a record triple daily service for the ski season peak from Sydney (to Queenstown), complemented by daily services from Brisbane and Melbourne,” the spokeswoman said.

Other extra flights had been scheduled between Brisbane and Christchurch, and Sydney-Wellington.

Frequent flyers were also seizing the opportunity to finally redeem points on international services, with Qantas seeing a redemption rate 80-times that of a “normal day”.

At the same time Virgin Australia defended its shock decision to push back flights to New Zealand that went on sale last December, pointing out customers were always made aware schedules could not be guaranteed and were subject to change.

A spokesman said affected passengers would have the option of being re-accommodated on an Air New Zealand flight, offered a travel credit, or given a full refund.

Limited fleet numbers are understood to be the driving force behind the decision, with Virgin Australia in the process of negotiating leases on a number of extra Boeing 737s.

Following the airline’s administration last year and sale to US private equity fund Bain Capital, Virgin Australia’s fleet was reduced from over 100 aircraft to 58 Boeing 737s.

The narrow body aeroplanes are understood to all be in use, as the airline rebuilds its network focusing on profitable domestic routes.

Meanwhile Qantas has announced another international route after being awarded a federal government contract to operate fortnightly flights between Darwin and Dili.

The service will carry key medical personnel and essential freight to communities across Timor-Leste, and help support the country’s response to COVID-19.

A Qantas statement said “many Australians were actively engaged with Timor-Leste through government development and humanitarian assistance programs, education and medical services”.

“Travellers will be required to quarantine at Howard Springs on their return while international borders remain closed,” said the statement.