Air New Zealand has 60% of the country’s seats; plans 78 routes in Q2

Air New Zealand plays a critical role in the country’s domestic and international operations. According to Cirium schedule data, the Star Alliance operator has nearly 4.9 million two-way seats in Q2 2026 (April-June). It provides 80% of the domestic market and 43% internationally.

The same source shows that ANZ’s capacity has grown by 3% year-over-year, but it is still only its fifth-best Q2 on record. Its available seats remain down by a relatively modest 4% compared to the record held in 2019.

Planespotters.net shows a fleet of 115 aircraft. It has 31 ATR 72s, 23 Dash 8-300s, 17 A320ceos, 14 A321neos, 14 787-9s, 10 777-300ERs and six A320neos. Turboprops, which are well-suited to the domestic market, account for nearly half of its equipment.

71% of ANZ’s capacity is from Auckland

ANZ’s network in Q2 consists of 47 airports. Compared to the same three months last year, only Nouméa, in New Caledonia, has joined its network. This occurred on 1 November 2025, with a weekly to 2-weekly service from Auckland, a market that had been served for many years until May 2024.

Some 20 of ANZ’s airports are in New Zealand. Seven of its most-served airports are within the country. Obviously, Auckland is first, with 1.7 million one-way seats; it accounts for over seven in ten of the carrier’s total capacity.

The airline has 43 routes from Auckland: 16 domestic and 27 international. The only airports in its network without flights from New Zealand’s most populous city are Hamilton (served from Christchurch and Wellington), Hokitika (served from Christchurch) and Timaru (served from Wellington).

78 routes in Q2

Unusually, it has 39 domestic and 39 international routes in the examined quarter. The domestic market accounts for 82% of its total capacity. Of the country’s three main cities, it is particularly dominant domestically from Wellington (79%), which is New Zealand’s capital, Auckland (75%) and Christchurch (74%).

With 248,000 one-way seats, Auckland-Christchurch remains the carrier’s leading market. When flights are considered, it has 102-weekly departures in mid-May, against its sole competitor, Jetstar (68). Various other airlines operated in the past, most recently Virgin (NZ) in 2010.

ANZ’s international routes are from Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown. With 20 routes, its trans-Tasman services to Australia are vital. Auckland-Sydney remains its top international market. In mid-May, it has 28-weekly one-way flights, 7 of which are on the 777-300ER/787-9. In comparison, Qantas has 38-weekly flights, while Jetstar has 11 and China Eastern has 2.