Air New Zealand has touched down in Hobart for its fifth consecutive season, bringing larger aircraft and more than 25,000 extra seats to meet growing trans-Tasman demand.
The seasonal service resumed on Sunday, offering an 11% capacity boost compared with last year’s operations.
This summer, the airline will use its larger A321 aircraft on six out of every ten flights – a sign of the route’s popularity among both Tasmanian and New Zealand travellers.
Hobart Airport chief operating officer Matt Cocker said the expansion was significant for Tasmania’s tourism sector.
“Hobart Airport is thrilled to have Air New Zealand back, bigger and better than ever before,” Cocker said.
“The 2025-26 seasonal flights will add more than 25,000 seats to this summer’s busy flying schedule from Hobart Airport.”
The service provides Tasmanians with one-stop connections to New York, Los Angeles, Fiji and other Pacific destinations via Auckland.
Cocker said the Hobart–Auckland route had evolved from its early, government-backed beginnings into a commercially sustainable operation.
“The seasonal Air New Zealand flights are a great success story, having started with the help of Tasmanian government seed funding and now operating on a stand-alone basis and with growing popularity too,” he said.
Air New Zealand’s Scott Smith said passenger numbers had strengthened consistently.
Since the route began in April 2021 over 80,000 passengers have travelled between Hobart and Auckland.
“We’re thrilled to be touching down in Hobart again for another exciting summer season,” he said.
“Demand from both sides of the Tasman has continued to grow and this year’s expanded schedule reflects that confidence.”
The expanded Air New Zealand service forms part of what the airport has described as a blockbuster summer, alongside the return of Qantas direct flights to Perth and new Jetstar services to Newcastle.
Hobart Airport is investing $200 million to double its terminal capacity by 2027 to accommodate growing passenger volumes.
Air New Zealand’s NZ195 and NZ196 flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays through to March 29 next year.
