Final Invercargill-Wellington Direct Flights

Air New Zealand's final direct flights between Invercargill and Wellington are being flown today and tomorrow. The final southbound flight, NZ5877, was flown this evening, 17 January 2025, in Bombardier Q300 ZK-NEO. The final northbound flight to Wellington, NZ5872, is scheduled to be flown tomorrow morning, 18 January 2025, in the same aircraft.

In earlier media coverage Air New Zealand general manager domestic Scott Carr said the decision has come down to global engine maintenance issues putting aircraft out of service, coupled with a softening of demand domestically. “As a result, we have had to make the tough decision to no longer operate the direct Invercargill to Wellington service from 19 January 2025. Customers will still be able to fly to Wellington via Christchurch. We will be adding additional flights between Christchurch and Invercargill to ensure there is sufficient capacity. Those who are already booked to travel will be re-accommodated, the airline said. “We know this change may cause inconvenience for some, but we want to assure our customers that we remain committed to connecting Invercargill to our wider network via the direct Christchurch and Auckland services.” 

Southland Business Chamber CEO Sheree Carey said the news was “disappointing”, particularly for businesses and people who rely on the “vital” link to the capital. “Direct flights play a crucial role in fostering connections for business travel, tourism, and personal journeys, and losing this service could impact our local economy and accessibility.”