Qantas has launched international flights to South Australia for the first time in more than a decade amid a surge in the number of Kiwis flying to Adelaide.
The first direct flight from Adelaide to Auckland took off on Friday morning after “significant growth” in demand for the route over the last 18 months.
The new route comes as more Kiwis than ever move to Australia.
In the year ending June 2025, almost 72,000 New Zealanders moved overseas as the economy continues to flounder post-COVID. Almost 60 per cent of those expats headed to Australia.
In a press conference ahead of the flight, Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive René de Monchy was asked whether he feared losing New Zealanders to Adelaide.
“It’s got to work in both directions, right? So I think that’s important,” he said.
“But I flew up here last night and having to make that one stop on the way here makes it that much harder. So, it’s just great for people that, that barrier gets reduced.”
Mr Monchy said the direct flight would help to boost the economy via tourism to New Zealand.
“It’s the number one employer in New Zealand and that’s vitally important, you know, we’re really trying to drive the economy,” he said.
South Australia has seen a dramatic 42 per cent uptick in the number of Kiwis coming to Adelaide in the last year alone.
Qantas hasn’t flown internationally out of Adelaide for more than a decade, however, has decided to capitalise on the increased demand in the route.
The route will connect South Australias to New York in just 21 hours with a stop over in Auckland.
Qantas CEO International Cam Wallace said the return of Qantas international flights in Adelaide was a “major milestone”.
“We’re pleased to bring more of that choice and connectivity to South Australia,” Mr Wallace said.
South Australia Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison said the tourism benefits would be seen in both cities.
“It is an important milestone for South Australia today to welcome Qantas international services back to Adelaide after more than a decade,” she said.
“This new service direct to Auckland will further strengthen our State’s access to New Zealand, our fourth largest tourism market which has seen huge growth, up 42 per cent on the last year to contribute $93 million to South Australia’s economy.
“This service also provides greater access to another key global market in North America – worth $118 million to our State – as it connects through to New York City with a single stop.
The route will operate on a seasonal and will fly until early May four times a week.
Adelaide Airport Managing Director Brenton Cox said the new route was a “much-anticipated milestone” which would assist the “growing customer demand” for travel between Adelaide and New Zealand.
The duration for the flight is about 4 hours and 15 minutes.
This writer flew as a guest of Qantas
Read related topics:AdelaideQantas
