Jetstar Airways will begin non-stop flights between Christchurch and Perth from Oct. 27, 2026, introducing the first direct link between the two cities in nearly seven years.
A Direct Link Reinstated
The new route restores a direct connection between the two cities for the first time since 2019. Air New Zealand previously operated seasonal Christchurch-Perth services between 2013 and 2019 before discontinuing the route.
Until now, travellers have had to connect via Auckland or Australia’s East Coast. Jetstar’s new non-stop option cuts travel time significantly, with the Perth-to-Christchurch flight scheduled to take approximately six hours and 10 minutes, and the return sector taking around seven hours and 15 minutes. The difference is largely due to prevailing westerly winds across the Tasman Sea.
Evening departures from Christchurch at 8:15 p.m. will arrive in Perth at 10:30 p.m. local time. Morning services from Perth will depart at 7:45 a.m., arriving in Christchurch at 6:55 p.m.
The seasonal service will operate three times weekly through to late March, adding more than 30,000 seats across the summer travel period. Flights will depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays using the airline’s Perth-based Airbus A321LR aircraft which seats up to 232 passengers.
Expanding South Island Connectivity
Christchurch Airport says Australia remains its largest and most resilient international market, now back to pre-pandemic levels. The addition of Perth strengthens the airport’s position as a key South Island gateway and increases choice for passengers.
Perth is home to a sizeable New Zealand-born community, with around 70,000 Kiwis residing in Western Australia according to recent census figures, a factor likely to drive strong visiting friends and relatives demand.
Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully said the airline had seen solid appetite for affordable travel on both sides of the Tasman and was pleased to expand its trans-Tasman network further.
Competitive Landscape
The move adds further competitive pressure across the Tasman. Air New Zealand does not currently operate direct services between Christchurch and Perth, though it flies year-round from Christchurch to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, alongside seasonal Gold Coast and Adelaide services.
Jetstar has been steadily growing its footprint in New Zealand. In addition to its Christchurch base- which includes year-round services to Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Cairns, the airline has expanded trans-Tasman routes from Auckland and Wellington.
In 2025, Jetstar also became the only airline to operate international services from both Dunedin and Hamilton, offering non-stop flights to Sydney and the Gold Coast from Hamilton, and Gold Coast services from Dunedin multiple times a week.
Beyond Perth: Global Connections
While Christchurch passengers may miss some of Perth’s main long-haul departure banks, the service opens up new one-stop opportunities via Western Australia. From Perth, Jetstar operates routes to Asian leisure destinations including Phuket, Bangkok and Bali. Sister airline Qantas also serves Singapore, Johannesburg, London and Paris year-round, with Rome operating seasonally.
Although connections may not align perfectly, the route offers travellers the flexibility to build in a path stopover before continuing long-haul.
With one-way fares from Christchurch to Perth starting at NZ$299, let us know if you will be using this route for your next getaway.
