Air New Zealand has announced it's changing some of its services from seasonal to year-round as part of an agreement with the Queensland government.
The airline's direct flights on its Auckland-Cairns, Auckland-Sunshine Coast and Christchurch-Gold Coast routes will now operate throughout all 12 months of the year.
The agreement will remain in place until May 2022.
Air NZ's chief customer and sales officer Leanne Geraghty says the new flights will see an additional 26,000 seats available across the three Queensland destinations and marks the first time ever Kiwi holidaymakers will be able to travel with the airline to the Sunshine Coast year-round.
"Queensland has long been a popular destination for Kiwis looking for a little winter sunshine, and Air NZ flew around half of the 500,000 trips taken from New Zealand to Queensland in 2019," says Geraghty.
"Extending to year-round operations means all the experiences Queensland has to offer, be it theme parks, shopping, white sand beaches or the Great Barrier Reef, are now viable options for New Zealanders no matter the month."
Geraghty adds that nearly 400,000 Australians crossed the Tasman in 2019 to take advantage of the winter ski season or visit friends and relatives in Aotearoa.
"The additional services and goods connections onto our domestic network mean Queenslanders will be able to explore more of New Zealand during the shoulder season."
Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said once travel restrictions ease, the state is eager to welcome New Zealanders.
"Whether it's catching up with family and friends or visiting the iconic Queensland destinations you've seen on TV, now is time to start planning your trip across the ditch," Hinchliffe said.
