Qantas will resume international flights from the Gold Coast after a five-year hiatus, announcing new non-stop Gold Coast–Auckland flights.
The new service will be a boost for two-way tourism, but it is also a big win for premium and business travel, with Qantas set to be the only carrier offering business class between the two ports.
The year-round service begins 16 June 2026 and will run three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday), adding more than 52,000 seats annually.
The schedule includes afternoon departures from the Gold Coast (1.05pm), arriving in Auckland early evening (6.10pm).
Flights will operate on the flying kangaroo’s B737 aircraft, with Gold Coast–Auckland fares starting from AU$364 one way.
“Today marks a huge milestone for the Gold Coast with Qantas international services returning after almost five years,” Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace stated.
“There’s been real demand for a premium option to Auckland and we’re the only airline offering business class on this route.
Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn said the announcement is a “testament to the strong aviation attraction collaboration between the airport and Experience Gold Coast and the continued growth in international visitation to the city”.
With some 217,000 Kiwis choosing to visit the Gold Coast in the year ending June 2025, he added that the new service “will make it even easier to cross the ditch and experience the best of our destination”.
Amelia Evans, CEO of Queensland Airports Limited, which operates Gold Coast Airport, shares a similar optimism about the value of the new service.
“Auckland is already our most popular international route, with more than 320,000 passengers travelling between the two destinations annually,” she said.
“More than 65 per cent of passengers travelling on flights from New Zealand into the Gold Coast are visitors, and this will provide even more options, particularly for business and premium travellers.”
Samoa service
Qantas has also announced a new Sydney–Apia route operating via Auckland.
While not non-stop, the service provides near-daily Qantas connectivity to Samoa when combined with the airline’s existing Brisbane–Apia flights. The Sydney and Brisbane to Samoa services will operate on alternate days.
“Our new Auckland to Samoa service launching the same day gives Sydney and Brisbane travellers near-daily Qantas connectivity to the Pacific, strengthening our trans-Tasman and Pacific network,” Wallace said.
Last week, Qantas unveiled more Sydney-Hawaiʻi flights for next year. Read more about that here.
KARRYON UNPACKS: This is a smart play for Qantas and a useful one for agents. The Gold Coast regains a premium trans-Tasman option, and the Business class angle will appeal to high-yield customers who want comfort without heading to Brisbane. Meanwhile, the Sydney–Apia via Auckland service quietly boosts Qantas’ South Pacific capacity too, giving travellers more frequency and choice. For frontline sellers, it’s another set of tools to shape tailor-made trips across New Zealand and the islands, just in time for growing demand.
