Southern travellers will have even more choice when flying direct from Dunedin to the Gold Coast from March next year.

Jetstar has added a Monday flight to the existing trans-Tasman services on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, increasing the number of weekly direct flights to four from March 2026 between Dunedin and the Gold Coast.

Dunedin Airport CEO Daniel De Bono was ecstatic about the increase in flights. "We're thrilled to be able to offer an early Christmas present to our locals and our Aussie mates who have given us outstanding support on this service since it launched in June this year.

“Just last week it was reported by Stats NZ that visitor arrivals from Australia to New Zealand had increased by 12% in the 12 months to September this year. Dunedin is definitely playing its part with and how good to be able to offer four Jetstar direct services every week from March."

Jetstar’s CEO, Stephanie Tully, said the low-cost carrier is committed to helping Kiwis take off more for less.

“We're always focused on keeping fares low in New Zealand, and already this year we’ve sold more than 800,000 domestic seats for less than $100.”

“The Black Friday Sale is one of our biggest sales of the year and with an incredible 60,000 fares from just $48 it’s a great time to plan ahead and lock in a holiday for 2026. This year we’ve significantly expanded our network and our reliability is as strong as it’s ever been, meaning that Kiwis have more choice when travelling than ever before.”

Dunedin Mayor Sophie Barker was delighted with the news. “This is great recognition for the city and the south as we know our heritage and wildlife are such drawcards for trans-Tasman visitors.”

Mike Collins, Business South CEO was equally excited about the additional service. “This is great news for Dunedin and the South, supporting our Invest Ōtepoti Dunedin work and opening up even stronger links with the Gold Coast. Connectivity matters, and this makes trans-Tasman collaboration easier than ever.”

Enterprise Dunedin’s activity on the Gold Coast goes hand in hand with the increased service. Acting Destination Manager Teresa Fogarty said, “We’re thrilled to see Jetstar increasing the number of direct flights between Dunedin and the Gold Coast, this announcement is a real vote of confidence in our destination and the overall viability of the route.

“We continue to tell our Ōtepoti story in the local Gold Coast market and we’re seeing increasing numbers of Aussies coming over to experience a taste of southern hospitality. Great news for our city and the visitor-experience economy.”

Mark Frood, GM Tourism and Events for Great South said “The increased frequency is a great boost for our connectivity into the Gold Coast. We are looking forward to welcoming more Australian guests to experience our Southern Way to travel slower to more communities and enjoying our southern hospitality."

Jetstar's Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale on from 28 November until 2 December, includes the new Monday service from March.