Air New Zealand to introduce weekly non-stop flights between Melbourne and Queenstown, New Zealand

Air New Zealand is to  introduce weekly non-stop flights between Melbourne and the New Zealand resort centre of Queenstown this winter to accommodate the growing ski holiday market.

Queenstown - one of New Zealand’s most popular holiday destinations - is the gateway to many of the country’s best snowfields, and a major drawcard for Australian skiers and snowboarders.

Tasman Express air fares between Melbourne and Queenstown are priced from a low $537 return, including Australian taxes, when booked via the Air NZ website.

“The demand for ski and snowboard holidays from south-eastern Australia to New Zealand is strong and continuing to grow,” said Air New Zealand’s General Manager Australia, Mr Michael Reed. 

“Our aim is to fly travellers to the New Zealand snowfields as fast as possible, and our new non-stop flights from Melbourne to Queenstown will take just over three hours,” he said. 

“They will operate every Saturday from 10 July until 18 September – the peak of the New Zealand ski season – enabling travellers to get straight to Queenstown, and be on the snow in the afternoon.”

Flight NZ 236 will depart Melbourne at 6.45am and arrive in Queenstown at 11.55am. The return flight NZ 237 will leave Queenstown at 12.55pm, reaching Melbourne at 2.35pm.

The Melbourne - Queenstown services will be operated with new Airbus A320 twinjets, configured to seat 146 passengers - eight in Business Class and 138 in Economy.

The A320s deliver a new look and feel to Air New Zealand’s trans-Tasman flights with all leather-upholstered seats - and 28 per cent more seats than the smaller Boeing 737s which they are replacing on trans Tasman routes.