Qantas will begin year‑round services between Auckland and Apia from June 16, marking the carrier’s first international route from New Zealand directly into the Pacific Islands. The new three-times‑weekly service is aimed at improving access to Samoa for travellers based in New Zealand and strengthening linkages between Auckland and the capital of Samoa.
Zac Pittas, Qantas’ manager of corporate communications, said the Auckland–Apia route will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and will be flown with a Boeing 737. “The launch of flights from Auckland to Apia marks the first Qantas international flight from New Zealand to the Pacific Islands, making Samoa more accessible than ever for Kiwi travellers,” Pittas said.
Outbound services from Auckland will operate as QF145, departing at 5:55pm and arriving in Apia at 10:45pm local time. Return services are designated QF144 and will leave Apia at 6:40am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, touching down in Auckland at 9:55am — with onward connections available to Sydney. Qantas said the new sector is an extension of its existing daily Sydney–Auckland route.
The move adds another option for travel between New Zealand and Samoa and is likely to be welcomed by Samoan communities in New Zealand as well as tourists and business travellers. Qantas told media it does not currently expect fuel supply issues to affect the new route, a nod to supply concerns that have disrupted some airlines’ scheduling in recent months.
Qantas’ decision to establish a direct Auckland–Apia service underscores an intensifying focus among carriers on Pacific connectivity, following a period in which regional airlines have been promoting travel to island destinations and adjusting networks to post‑pandemic demand. For passengers, the launch offers more choice and timed connections between Samoa, Auckland and Australia.
Bookings and detailed fare information will be available through Qantas’ reservation systems and travel agents ahead of the June 16 start date, with the carrier positioning the schedule to feed its wider trans‑Tasman and Australia network.