Air New Zealand has released details of its Western Sydney Airport (WSI)-Auckland flights, with the new nonstop route commencing on Monday, 26 October 2026.
Subject to government approval, the direct service will fly three times per week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, utilising Air New Zealand’s A320neo and A321neo narrowbody aircraft.
On sale from today (Thursday, 2 April) – directly and in the GDS – flights will depart at 9am (Sydney time) and arrive in Auckland at 2.15pm (Auckland time), with a flight time of 3 hours, 15 minutes. Return flights will leave Auckland at 6.05am (AKL time) and land in Western Sydney at 7.50am (local time).
“We’re delighted to have Air New Zealand as a trusted partner, with the airline significantly advancing its flight schedule to take off from WSI in October – operating trans-Tasman services three times a week between WSI and Auckland,” Western Sydney Airport CEO Simon Hickey said.
“This route will give Sydney siders greater connectivity to New Zealand’s largest city and main holiday destination, so they can enjoy more choice and flexibility, alongside WSI’s innovative and seamless customer experience in our state-of-the-art terminal.”
Air New Zealand General Manager Short Haul and Domestic Lucy Hall said the new service would boost two-way travel, tourism and trade.
“Flying directly into Western Sydney opens up a catchment of more than 2.5 million people, including a significant New Zealand community, and supports stronger business, tourism and visiting friends and family links between our two countries,” she remarked.
“Together with our services to Sydney Kingsford Smith, this new route gives customers more choice and flexibility when travelling between New Zealand and Australia.”
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said the new flights would “grow the connection between our two nations”, but also acknowledged the challenges facing the aviation sector.
“We can expect demand for Trans-Tasman travel to return and grow again into the future,” she stated.
Transfer time
With Sydney home to two international airports more than 50 kilometres apart, Air New Zealand has also reminded customers to allow enough time to transfer between the hubs when arriving at one airport and departing from the other.
“Australian domestic connections from WSI will be added in due course,” it says in a message to the travel trade.
“Any incidental costs such as ground transport, will be the customer’s own responsibility.”
New Zealand’s national carrier is also allowing passengers with existing bookings from/to Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) ticketed on or before Thursday, 2 April, to change their travel to a WSI service “without penalty, fare difference within the same cabin or tax difference”.
Standard fare rules will apply for any other changes, it notes.
In addition, Air New Zealand will allow premium cabin customers booked from Sydney to switch to WSI by rebooking new tickets and refunding originals. Refunds require endorsement, noting the WSI launch.
The Kiwi carrier is the second airline to reveal details of its first Western Sydney service, following Singapore Airlines, which announced its direct WSI flights in late March.
Commencing 23 November 2026, Singapore Airlines will fly daily between Australia’s newest hub and Changi Airport, growing Sydney’s links to Singapore with SIA to five nonstop services per day.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Western Sydney Airport is quickly shifting from concept to commercial reality. For travel advisors, it’s both opportunity and complexity. Dual Sydney airports mean more choice, but also more explaining, planning and managing expectations. The early mover advantage is real here. Those who understand the logistics, and sell it confidently, will win.
