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.auI don’t have live access to the latest news feeds right now, but here’s a quick summary of Virgin Australia’s NZ-related developments based on recent public sources I can reference up to late 2024 and mid-2025:
-
Codeshare and trans-Tasman partnership
- Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand formalized a codeshare arrangement that allows Virgin Australia to sell Air New Zealand-operated trans-Tasman flights under a VA code to destinations like Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, expanding options for travelers crossing the Tasman [Virgin Australia newsroom (NZ) and press releases, 2024]. This partnership was presented as a way to deliver seamless travel experiences and greater network reach between Australia and New Zealand [Virgin Australia newsroom (NZ), 2024].[1][3]
-
Customer and loyalty benefits
- The alliance included benefits for Virgin Australia Business Flyers and broader corporate options, aiming to provide more ticketing, pricing options, and opportunities to earn Velocity Frequent Flyer benefits on trans-Tasman itineraries [Virgin Australia newsroom (NZ), 2024].[3]
-
Market context and coverage
- Coverage around the partnership and its implications for competition and consumer options appeared in industry outlets and press summaries in 2024, noting the ACCC’s involvement in authorisation processes for alliance arrangements between Virgin Australia and Air NZ in the Australian market [ACCC-related coverage via industry outlets, 2023–2024].[5]
-
Broader media attention
- Independent outlets and news aggregators tracked Virgin Australia’s broader strategic moves in Australasia, including stock market and corporate developments around the same period, though these were more peripheral to the NZ-focused codeshare arrangement [news coverage 2024–2025].[2]
If you’d like, I can do a focused, up-to-date check and pull the latest exact headlines and dates from Virgin Australia’s NZ newsroom, Air New Zealand announcements, and regulatory updates (ACCC) to verify current status and any new routes, pricing, or loyalty integrations. I can also provide a compact comparison of pre- vs post-partnership options for travellers between Australia and New Zealand. Would you like me to fetch the latest confirmed details and present them with citations?