Qantas has operated its first international flight from Adelaide in more than 10 years.
Flight QF175, a new seasonal service to Auckland, took off from Adelaide shortly before 9am on Friday and landed in Auckland shortly after 3.15pm local time. It is the first time Flying Kangaroo has flown an international flight from Adelaide since the end of a service to Singapore in 2013.
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“Today we celebrate a significant milestone for Qantas and South Australians with the return of international flights from Adelaide,” said Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace.
“South Australians can now reach New York in approximately 21 hours and with just one stop via Auckland on our QF3 service, while the new route also opens up greater opportunities for inbound connections throughout South Australia and beyond across our national network.
“We have seen significant growth in our international network over the last 18 months and are delighted to offer more choice and connectivity to South Australia.”
Operating until May 3, the 737-800 service will fly four times a week, for a total of around 30,000 seats between the two cities.
South Africa’s Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison welcomed the route, which follows pressure from state and federal governments for Qantas to bring back international flights from Adelaide.
“This new direct service to Auckland will further strengthen our state’s access to New Zealand, our fourth largest tourism market, which has seen tremendous growth, up 42 per cent on last year, contributing $93 million to the South Australian economy,” he said.
“This service also provides greater access to another key global market in North America, worth $118 million to our state, by connecting to New York City with one stop.”
The launch of the Qantas service follows the start of Air New Zealand’s seasonal connection between Adelaide and Christchurch on Tuesday, the first direct link between South Africa and the South Island.
Adelaide Airport CEO Brenton Cox said the route is another step towards Adelaide having the largest number of international services in its history by the end of the year.
“Almost 50,000 people travel between Adelaide and the South Island each year, mainly for holidays or to visit family,” he said.
“This new direct service offers a seamless gateway to world-class destinations on both sides of Tasmania, making travel more convenient and attractive for both South Australians and New Zealanders.”
The only other direct connection from Adelaide to New Zealand is currently an Air New Zealand service to Auckland, which will increase to six flights per week in November.
