Jetstar will commence direct flights from Gold Coast to Hamilton and Dunedin from June 2025, meaning the Queensland city will now offer six New Zealand connections – more than any other Australian hub – while Sydney still provides the most seats and frequency to NZ per week.
The two new routes build on Gold Coast Airport’s existing New Zealand connections to Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown and Christchurch.
These new routes trump Sydney’s direct connections to New Zealand at five trans-Tasman links, including a new JQ Sydney-Hamilton service from 16 June 2025.
Jetstar will operate services from Gold Coast to Hamilton and Dunedin thrice weekly from June 2025 while the Sydney-Hamilton route will operate up to four times per week.
These new services are expected to deliver 115,000-plus passengers annually to the Gold Coast, connecting the city to Dunedin for the first time and re-establishing the airport’s first-ever Tasman route to Hamilton.
The new JQ Sydney-Hamilton service will also unlock more than 75,000 new seats each year between the two cities, opening new opportunities to access the region’s tourist attractions, including Hobbiton, Waitomo glowworm caves and Rotorua hot springs.
With more seats and frequency to New Zealand than any other Australian airport, Sydney Airport Group Executive, Aviation Growth & Group Strategy Greg Botham said: “The addition of Hamilton locks Sydney in as the Australian gateway to New Zealand.”
“With more than two million annual passengers between Sydney and New Zealand, it’s second only to the USA as our largest international destination,” he said.
Jetstar eyes New Zealand
Earlier this year, Jetstar announced its intention to increase operations across the ditch, introducing new Cairns-Christchurch and Sunshine Coast-Auckland services.
Queensland Airports Limited CEO Amelia Evans said: “New Zealand is Australia’s largest international visitor market, so it makes sense for us to increase our trans-Tasman connectivity. We’re proud that [Gold Coast Airport] will be Australia’s most connected airport to New Zealand.”
Jetstar Group CEO Stephanie Tully said the announcement is great news for Sydney and the Gold Coast region with a 24-hour Route Launch Sale.
“This will be the first time Jetstar has ever flown to and from Hamilton and will unlock more than 75,000 new ‘low fares’ seats between Sydney and New Zealand’s North Island each year,” she said.
“The new routes unlock more than 115,000 new ‘low fares’ seats a year between the Gold Coast and Hamilton and Dunedin while helping to connect the city’s large population of Kiwi expats to their home country.”
For more info, head to jetstar.com.au
