Sydney’s dating scene is less ‘rom-com’ and more ‘renewing your passport in your lunch break’: same forced smile at a stranger, same awkward questions about your middle name, and the creeping dread you’re doing all this for something that’ll expire before you get any real use out of it. The apps? Exhausting. The banter? Recycled. The dates? You’d have better luck networking at Centrelink. It’s all swipe, no substance. So Air New Zealand’s shutting the app and offering a way out.
To celebrate 30 years of flying between Sydney and Queenstown, the airline is launching its ‘30, Flirty and Flying’ campaign, which offers singles something dating apps never do: an escape.
Because love is in the Air (New Zealand)
Timed to the airline’s Sydney-Queenstown route anniversary, ‘30, Flirty and Flying’ is a new promotion offering fifteen single Sydneysiders (plus their closest co-pilots) the chance to swap stale DMs for mountain air, fresh faces, and maybe someone who doesn’t say ‘I’m not looking for anything serious’ in the first five minutes. Love not guaranteed. Legroom, absolutely.
It’s all about geographically expanding the dating pool. According to research commissioned by Air New Zealand, 62 per cent of singles in Sydney have considered dating outside the city. A further 41 per cent have already “given up” on the local scene altogether.
Kathryn O’Brien, Air New Zealand’s General Manager of Australia, said the campaign was inspired by a shift in dating culture.
“Our research shows Sydney singles aren’t just open to change, they’re craving it,” she said.
“Whether it’s swiping in future holiday spots or bending the digital rules to meet someone new, daters are actively seeking novelty, adventure, and fresh faces.”
O’Brien said the campaign was designed to break singles out of their usual dating patterns and offer them a memorable experience in Queenstown.
“Whether love takes off or not, it’s the perfect chance to unplug, explore somewhere new, and come home with fresh stories and perspectives.”
Swipe left on Sydney: Why Queenstown is calling
The destination is no coincidence. Queenstown has long been a favourite with Australians, especially for romantic escapes and adventure-based holidays. It’s also now more accessible than ever, with Air New Zealand increasing capacity on its Sydney-Queenstown route by 26 per cent from November 2025 to March 2026, compared with the same period last year.
The airline says the added seats are designed to meet growing demand for both leisure travel and, in this case, new kinds of connection.
How to get on board
The campaign is open to single Australians aged 18 and over. Applicants can nominate themselves or a single friend by submitting a short written story on why they (or their mate) deserve the romantic re-route to Queenstown. A video is optional but encouraged.
Entries are open until midnight on 30 July 2025, with 30 return tickets up for grabs: 15 for winners and 15 for their chosen travel companions.
What the research shows about Sydney singles
Air New Zealand’s survey of Sydney-based daters reveals a market keen for change:
- 74 per cent are open to chatting with strangers while travelling, whether in airports, on flights, or in transit.
- 87 per cent are open to or have already had a holiday romance.
- 69 per cent of dating app users report seeing the same faces repeatedly.
Many are even modifying their online habits to find new matches. Of those surveyed:
- 39 per cent have used “future-matching”—swiping in places they plan to visit.
- 37 per cent admit to “geolusting”—browsing dating profiles in far-off destinations.
- 26 per cent have gone as far as “location-faking” to access other dating markets.
KARRYON UNPACKS: The campaign may be cheeky, but it’s commercially clever. Air New Zealand is turning a cultural gripe into a selling point, using humour and relatability to drive interest in off-peak, trans-Tasman travel.
