Air New Zealand to suspend direct flights between Hobart and Auckland due to maintenance backlog

Air New Zealand has announced it will pause direct flights between Auckland and Hobart next year for approximately six months to deal with the fallout from a global engine issue.

Direct flight from New Zealand to Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

Air New Zealand has announced it will pause direct flights between Auckland and Hobart from April 5, 2024 for approximately six months to allow for required engine maintenance.

Air New Zealand launched its direct flights between the destinations in April 2021, the first time in over two decades Tasmania had been connected to New Zealand directly across the Tasman Sea.

The service initially operated twice weekly, with a third return flight added as recently as last month to cope with swelling demand.

In a statement, Air New Zealand said the decision to suspend services was made in response to the carrier having to “adjusts its schedule to accommodate grounded aircraft undergoing mandatory Pratt & Whitney engine maintenance following the global engine issues it recently announced”.

Pratt & Whitney engines are in Air New Zealand’s narrow-body aircraft, including those operating on its Hobart service, meaning the airline is required to ground several aircraft in the short to medium-term.

“There is no safety concern for aircraft still in service, and Air New Zealand is conducting early engine maintenance as a precautionary measure,” the carrier’s statement read.

Air New Zealand said it expected to resume the service in November.

Air New Zealand at Hobart International Airport. Picture: Chris Kidd

Tourism Tasmania said it had received assurances from Air New Zealand that Tasmania remained a part of their long-term plans.

“Air New Zealand is a global brand with a great reputation, strong customer base and good network connectivity. The direct flights have proved popular for both Tasmanians and New Zealanders since the service commenced,” the tourism body said in a statement.

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“Tourism Tasmania will continue to target New Zealand travellers to Tasmania, flying via Melbourne and Sydney, where there are multiple daily flights from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown, to ensure continued growth from this market.

“We look forward to seeing strong demand for the Hobart – Auckland flights this summer and will be working closely with Air New Zealand to reintroduce the direct service later in 2024.”

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he had a phone call with the carrier on Friday morning where he conveyed his disappointment.

“Of course, there are many routes that are being disrupted as a result of the announcement. What I’m keen to do is work in partnership with Air New Zealand to get those flights back up and running,” he said.