More Air New Zealand flights between Hobart and Auckland as demand takes off

Air New Zealand's direct trans Tasman Hobart to Auckland service will return for its sixth season in October 2026, with more flights, more seats and an extended flying season giving Tasmanians greater choice when travelling to New Zealand and beyond.

The seasonal service will operate three times a week for most of the season, with the airline adding a fourth flight per week for the peak period between 27 February and 20 March.

This expansion delivers a 28 per cent increase in the number of seats between the two destinations over the same period last year.

Parliamentary Secretary Marcus Vermey said the Tasmanian Government, through the Aviation Attraction Fund, is proud to announce our support for increasing capacity for Air New Zealand’s popular direct Hobart to Auckland flights during the 2026-27 season.

"Air New Zealand growing its service to our state is a strong vote of confidence in Tasmania as a destination, and the strength of our tourism industry,” Mr Vermey said.

“This kind of growth also supports jobs in our visitor economy and gives Tasmanians more choice when they travel.

“Through our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, we’re strengthening our tourism industry.”

Hobart Airport Chief Executive Officer Norris Carter said strong demand for the ongoing seasonal service had enabled Hobart Airport and Air New Zealand, in partnership with the Tasmanian Government through the Aviation Attraction Fund, to secure the extended season and increased capacity planned for the next three years.

“This is a great result for Tasmanians and reflects the strong demand we’re seeing for direct travel between Tasmania and New Zealand,” Mr Carter said.

“The service will now run from 25 October through to the end of April, which is great for Easter and will also capture more school holiday traffic.”

Tourism Tasmania CEO Sarah Kingston Clark said the investment through Air New Zealand and the Aviation Attraction Fund is expected to deliver continued growth over the next three years, with up to 170 flights and over 33,000 seats planned for the season. This represents an increase of 36 flights, or 27 per cent, and 7,268 seats, or 28 per cent, compared with the previous year's service.

“The expanded Hobart-Auckland service reflects the growing demand for Tasmania from international visitors and strengthens our connection to key markets including New Zealand and the United States. This is great news for our tourism industry, our visitors and Tasmanians who benefit from stronger air access,” said Ms Kingston Clark.

The direct service provides Tasmanians with straightforward access to Auckland, with passengers able to clear customs in Hobart and be on an international holiday within around 3.5 hours.

From Auckland, travellers can explore attractions, national parks and water sports across New Zealand, or connect onwards to destinations including New York, Los Angeles and Vancouver, without the need to transit through Melbourne or Sydney.

The continued growth of the service reflects the value of the partnership between Hobart Airport, Air New Zealand and the Tasmanian Government, supported by the Aviation Attraction Fund and sustained by strong demand for the route.

Air New Zealand's General Manager Short Haul and Domestic, Lucy Hall, said the airline was pleased to be returning to Hobart for a sixth season, with the expanded schedule reflecting the continued popularity of the route.

Ms Hall said the route had seen strong support over successive seasons, and that the growth was an example of how the airline could work with partners to build sustainable connectivity where there was clear customer demand. She said Air New Zealand looked forward to welcoming more Tasmanians on board and bringing more New Zealanders to Tasmania.​