Great news for South Island-bound travellers from South Australia, Air New Zealand will continue its Adelaide-Christchurch seasonal service until 1 May 2026, serving as the only direct connection between the two destinations.
Air New Zealand launched the first-ever Adelaide-Christchurch route on 28 October 2025, boosting trans-Tasman connectivity and adding more than 16,000 seats over the season with the initial run due to conclude on 28 March 2026.
With the two-month extension, the twice-weekly direct service between the sister cities will continue to operate on Mondays and Fridays on Air New Zealand’s Airbus A320 and A321neo narrowbody aircraft.
At the October 2025 launch, Air New Zealand General Manager Short Haul Lucy Hall said: “This new service is about more than just connecting two cities – it’s about strengthening tourism and connections between South Australia and the South Island.”
Adelaide Airport Managing Director Brenton Cox noted that the ADL-CHC service responds to strong demand between the sister cities with almost 50,000 people travelling between Adelaide and the South Island annually.
“This new nonstop 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,” he said.
The ADL-CHC route complements the carrier’s existing Adelaide-Auckland service and was part of a significant expansion to Air New Zealand’s trans-Tasman summer schedule.
For more info, head to airnewzealand.com.au
KARRYON UNPACKS: The extension of Air New Zealand’s Adelaide–Christchurch flights secures nonstop access to New Zealand’s South Island, giving travel advisors a strong selling point for city, nature and touring itineraries through autumn 2026.
