New Zealand-bound Queenslanders and Victorians can look forward to a more pampered experience in 2027, as Qatar Airways operates new nonstop flights between Brisbane and Melbourne to Auckland using its widebody B777-300ERs, which feature the carrier’s luxurious Qsuites.
The new flights mark the first time the business-class product will be available on these routes, giving premium passengers the chance to indulge in a private suite on a three-hour Trans-Tasman hop. All passengers also have access to the carrier’s Starlink wifi service. Read our recent review of the Qsuite here.
Qatar Airways is using fifth freedom rights (when an airline carries paying passengers between two foreign countries) to operate its Brisbane and Melbourne to Auckland services. It currently flies Adelaide-Auckland as a tagged option to its Doha-Adelaide service.
But that operation will switch to Melbourne-Auckland (QR904/5) on 8 December this year (as reported last week by Karryon) before changing again to Brisbane-Auckland (QR898/9) from 26 June 2027.
The new Brisbane-Auckland service will depart BNE at 00.55 and arrive in AKL at 05.55. The return leg will leave AKL at 11.20 and land in BNE at 13.10 before flying on to Doha at 15.10.
The airline also offers a tagged Melbourne-Canberra service (QR988/9), which will grow from four flights per week to a daily operation in early December.
The new Brisbane-Auckland service is also good news for two-way tourism, as Queenslanders and Kiwis will have more seats and choice between the cities, which are popular destinations for both markets.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Qatar Airways is quietly redefining the Trans-Tasman premium market, turning a routine three-hour hop into a long-haul-style experience while adding valuable capacity and competition for travel advisors to sell.
