Visitors from New Zealand’s South Island can now reach South Australia with greater ease, following the arrival of the first-ever direct Air New Zealand flight between Christchurch and Adelaide on Sunday night.
The service marks a milestone in aviation links between the two sister cities, whose relationship dates back to 1972, and is expected to boost both tourism and business travel across the Tasman.
The route will run twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays until March 2026, operated by an Airbus A320 or A321neo. It will add around 15,000 seats across the season, offering new convenience for travellers and supporting South Australia’s growing international connections.
Tourism data show that New Zealand is South Australia’s fourth-largest international market, with around 43,000 annual visitors contributing $93 million to the local economy and generating more than half a million overnight stays.
Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said the launch was a welcome addition for the state. “It is terrific news for tourism in South Australia to be launching the first-ever direct flight from New Zealand’s South Island to Adelaide,” she said. “More direct flights into Adelaide from New Zealand—currently our State’s fourth largest tourism market—means more potential visitors coming to experience all our State has to offer. The direct Air New Zealand service from Christchurch is the first in a series of exciting arrivals of new routes and new airlines through to the end of the year—strengthening the world’s connection to South Australia and seeing more international airlines servicing Adelaide than ever before.”
Minister for Trade and Investment Joe Szakacs said the government’s aviation efforts were bearing fruit. “Our government has worked diligently to not just bring back the flights we had before the pandemic, but to deliver new flights that help grow our state’s economy,” he said. “On top of today’s arrival, in the next two weeks alone we will see Qantas and Cathay Pacific both resuming international flights out of Adelaide, before United Airlines touches down for the first time in December. I welcome today’s flight, which makes Adelaide and South Australia more accessible to our sister city.”
Air New Zealand’s General Manager for Short Haul, Lucy Hall, said the new service was about connection and cultural exchange. “This new service is about more than just connecting two cities—it’s about strengthening tourism and cultural ties between South Australia and the South Island,” she said. “We’re excited to welcome more Australians to explore our beautiful South Island, from its world-class food and wine to its adventure and nature experiences. At the same time, this route gives Cantabrians even more convenient access to Australia—our most popular international destination—for holidays, events, and reconnecting with friends and family across the Tasman.”
Adelaide Airport Managing Director Brenton Cox said demand between the cities had long been strong. “We’re proud to celebrate the launch of Adelaide’s first direct flight to Christchurch this morning, a milestone that responds to strong demand between our sister cities,” he said. “Nearly 50,000 people travel between Adelaide and the South Island each year, primarily for holidays or to visit family. This new non-stop service offers a seamless gateway to world-class destinations on both sides of the Tasman, making travel more convenient and appealing for South Australians and New Zealanders alike.”
Adelaide’s Lord Mayor, Jane Lomax-Smith, said the route carries symbolic importance as well as economic value. “The City of Adelaide is particularly excited about this new opportunity given our close relationship with Christchurch—formally recognised more than half a century ago,” she said. “To our South Island friends, we say Kia Ora and you can expect many more South Australians to visit regularly due to this fantastic new twice weekly service. We will be excited to spend more time in your stunning and vibrant city. We also look forward to welcoming you to Adelaide, be it for the first time or a return visit. From our high-quality wines and produce to world-leading events and natural beauty, we have much in common and here’s to our relationship growing even stronger.”
The Christchurch–Adelaide connection joins a growing list of new or returning international routes for the state. Alongside Air New Zealand’s new service, Qantas will begin Auckland–Adelaide flights on 31 October, Cathay Pacific will resume its Hong Kong route on 12 November, and United Airlines will fly from San Francisco to Adelaide from mid-December.
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