Christchurch Airport Wins Big As Qantas Boosts Summer Flight
Press Release – Christchurch Airport
From 15 December to 26 January, Qantas will operate up to seven additional flights per week to Sydney and up to three additional flights per week to Melbourne, taking a significant share of an up to 20% increase in the airlines trans-Tasman schedule.
Qantas has announced a major summer uplift for New Zealand – and Christchurch Airport is the big winner with a 47% increase in the number of flights to Sydney and a 26% increase in flights to Melbourne.
From 15 December to 26 January, Qantas will operate up to seven additional flights per week to Sydney and up to three additional flights per week to Melbourne, taking a significant share of an up to 20% increase in the airline's trans-Tasman schedule.
It's great news for Christchurch and the South Island, with more flights offering greater choice and flexibility for Kiwis and helping to attract even more Aussie visitors to experience the South Island's legendary adventures and scenery.
Importantly, the new flights have been timed to connect seamlessly with Qantas' international services, offering travellers super convenient links to destinations across Asia and Europe. Whether it's a summer escape to Singapore, a cultural journey through Japan, or a white Christmas in London or Paris, the world just got closer.
The additional services also mean families and friends can more easily reconnect over the busy holiday season.
Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Justin Watson says the extra flights build on Qantas' strong presence at the airport.
'This is fantastic news; it shows Qantas recognises the strength of the Christchurch and the South Island market. These extra flights are a win for tourism, trade and travel. They'll help businesses thrive and give Kiwis even more options.'
Christchurch Airport's General Manager Aeronautical Development, Gordon Bevan, says the boost will be felt across the region.
'Aussies can't get enough of the South Island, and now it's even easier for them to fly straight here. More flights mean more visitors, more spending, and more benefits for our economy.'
ChristchurchNZ Chief Executive Ali Adams say 'This is fantastic news for Ōtautahi Christchurch, it will give local businesses in our tourism sector a summer boost, while also supporting the city's exporters and innovators. Christchurch is an exciting destination right now and we can't wait to welcome more of our Australian neighbours to come play in our beautiful city and region.'
The new flights can be booked from today
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
43 minutes ago
- NZ Herald
Why Suva should be top of your Fiji to-do list
Kiwis often overlook Fiji's capital, Suva, for their holiday but the bustling multicultural city is rich in history, flavour and worth stepping away from the deserted beaches for, writes Varsha Anjali After buying some Indian sweets (lakdi mithai, if interested - it's sweet, savoury and great) from the market in
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Otago Daily Times
Tug sent abroad to make way for new boat
For more than two decades the tug boat Otago has been a familiar sight, plying the Otago Harbour channel with large ships in tow. But next week it will be given a fond wave by Port Otago staff as it is hitched to the stern of a ship and towed across the Tasman to Sydney. Port Otago marine and infrastructure general manager Grant Bicknell said it had been sold to an Australian commercial marine towage service and would eventually be based in Cairns. All of its windows have been boarded up to handle big-sea conditions and it was expected to depart on Wednesday. He said Otago was sold so the port could buy a new $15 million 70-tonne Damen ASD 2312 tug. The purchase is part of Port Otago's strategy to be New Zealand's "always open" port, capable of handling the biggest ships visiting the country. Port Otago chief executive Kevin Winders said the new tug was a key piece of infrastructure that would allow the port to be big-ship capable. "We already have the three other essential components in place — the multi-purpose wharf, at 430m long and a berth depth of 14m; consent to deepen the Lower Harbour channel to 15m and a new state-of-the-art dredge on order. "By January 2026 we will also have the tug fleet we need — that is a fleet capable of handling container vessels up to 10,000TEU and larger bulk ships. "It's also relevant that these bigger vessels have lower carbon footprints per container movement." It would join the tug Taiaroa (a Damen 70-tonne bollard pull) and tug Arihi (a 30-tonne bollard pull). Mr Bicknell said to manoeuvre a 10,000TEU container vessel in the swing basin and on to the Multipurpose Wharf required two 70-tonne bollard-pull tugs. Alongside the capability advantages, the upgrade also reduced the tug fleet's maintenance risk and provided a better carbon outcome, he said. "The Damen tug's modern Euro 6 diesel engine uses two-thirds as much fuel as the 21-year-old Otago. "It has excellent manoeuvrability because of its compact shape, patented Twin Fin skeg configuration and twin Azimuth thrusters." He said the single winch design was another feature that had both operation and safety benefits. "Older tugs have two winches — one for fore and one for aft — but the Damen ASD 2312 has only one centrally-placed winch that's integrated into the tug's superstructure. "The central positioning means that the winch is capable of towing over the bow and over the stern. "As a result, the deck is more spacious, free of clutter and safer." The new tug is under construction in the Damen Changde shipyard in China and is expected to arrive early next year.
Techday NZ
2 days ago
- Techday NZ
Strengthening cyber resilience in superannuation
In early April, cybercriminals infiltrated multiple superannuation providers using stolen credentials to drain half a million dollars, while four Australians saw their retirement savings vanish overnight. Investigators are racing to piece together the scale of the breach, emphasizing the growing cybersecurity risks threatening Australia's AU$4.2 trillion retirement savings pool. With 12.6 million superannuation members exposed in recent attacks, the question is no longer if fraudsters will strike, but how the industry can stay ahead in this battle. Even though the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) praised multifactor authentication (MFA) as "one of the most effective controls an organisation can implement" in 2023, the rapid evolution of cybercrime demands more sophisticated defences. Limits of MFA in a changing threat landscape MFA remains one of the critical security measures, requiring users to verify their identity with two or more credentials, which adds an extra layer of friction to deter attacks in the login process. However, cybercriminals are also adapting, using modern tactics such as phishing, social engineering and AI-powered techniques to bypass these defences. Recent superannuation breaches highlight another vulnerability in the digital landscape: inadequate password practices. Many individuals still reuse passwords across platforms, unintentionally simplifying the task for cybercriminals who exploit stolen credentials. Attackers often conduct these crimes unnoticed, causing considerable financial damage before they are detected. Trade-off between cybersecurity and user experience According to the True Cost of Fraud Study by LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Australian organisations saw a 66% year-on-year increase in fraud, with every dollar lost costing firms AUD$3.68. This trend highlights the urgency for a more adaptive and layered approach to fraud prevention. At the same time, customers today expect both security and convenience. Applying MFA to every interaction could be a more robust approach but excessive friction can lead to abandonment, indirectly discouraging users from monitoring their accounts due to higher friction, making them less likely to notice when they have become victims of an attack. A more nuanced, risk-based approach that applies the right level of security based on the context and risks of each interaction allows organisations to detect and disrupt complex fraud in real time without adding unnecessary friction. By aligning protection with risk, businesses can strengthen security without compromising customer experiences. A comprehensive defence strategy involves multiple layers, and each layer strengthens defence against fraudsters. This ensures that if one security measure fails, others remain in place to detect and mitigate fraudulent activity. Key measures should include identity verification, device intelligence, behavioural intelligence and real-time risk scoring: Risk assessments analyse contextual risk signals, such as device reputation, IP geolocation, network patterns and login behaviours. This allows institutions to assess the risk level of each interaction. AI models analyse these signals in real time to assign a risk score, deciding whether extra authentication is necessary. AI-powered identity verification ensures that the individual behind the digital interaction is genuine. Comparing identity details with public records and data from multiple providers further validates the authenticity of the identity. Fraud assessments assess risk associated with an individual's identity by analysing a combination of digital, physical and behavioural signals. With holistic behavioural intelligence, such as keystroke dynamics, device interactions and mouse movements, this approach builds a dynamic profile of each user over time, and deviations from this may signal potentially bot or fraudulent activities. Adaptive authentication: Apply stronger verification for high-risk scenarios dynamically, while maintaining a smooth experience for legitimate users. Recent cyberattacks targeting superannuation funds highlight the need for a more robust digital defence strategy. APRA's multi-factor authentication guidelines offer a solid foundation, but static approaches alone are not enough to manage dynamic threats. Industry players must take a unified, layered approach to safeguard Australia's financial system.
