Freedom Air cuts some Brisbane flights

Air New Zealand's budget wing Freedom Air is axeing its flights to Brisbane from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, handing over the route to its full-service parent.

In return, Freedom will take over one of Air NZ's leisure routes, including between Wellington and Fiji. Pacific Blue now has full control of the low-cost market between the main New Zealand cities and Brisbane.

The moves come as part of a wider reshuffling of the aviation deck across the Tasman, with Freedom's budget rival Pacific Blue recently moving to take on the Auckland market.

It is launching flights from Auckland to Brisbane and the Gold Coast, starting May 12.


Freedom Air flights to Brisbane from Hamilton, Palemerston North and Dunedin will continue.


* An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that all Freedom Air flights to Brisbane were to end.