Virgin Australia gets ACCC nod to sell Air New Zealand's trans-Tasman flights
Boosting trans-Tasman air travel and tourism, the ACCC has approved unilateral code-sharing arrangements between Virgin Australia and Air NZ.
karryon.com.auHere’s a concise update on Virgin Australia Airlines (NZ) based on the latest publicly available reporting.
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Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand have re-established a trans-Tasman codeshare partnership, allowing Virgin Australia customers to book Air New Zealand-operated flights with VA codes from Australia to Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch (from December 9, 2024 onward). This arrangement expands NZ destination access for VA passengers. [Virgin Australia newsroom coverage][1][5]
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In late 2024, reporting and official statements highlighted that the codeshare would enhance travel options and loyalty benefits for eligible VA customers, including Velocity Frequent Flyer perks on eligible trans-Tasman itineraries. [Virgin Australia newsroom coverage][1]
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There have been prior indications of broader strategic movements affecting Virgin Australia’s NZ footprint, including NZ-focused operations adjustments during 2023–2024 in some coverage, but the current active state centers on the Air NZ codeshare and resumed cross-Tasman connectivity. [NZ Herald coverage][3][9]
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For context, secondary sources in 2024–2025 tracked ACCC approvals and related industry chatter about cross-Tasman arrangements, which supported the revival of trans-Tasman connectivity between the two carriers. [Karryon coverage][6]
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent official press releases or provide a quick side-by-side timeline of key milestones (codeshare launch, approvals, and subsequent service changes) with direct links.