# Australia and New Zealand aviation trends > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/australia-and-new-zealand-aviation-trends > Updated: 2026-09-27T02:45:30.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2. Air New Zealand has announced an expansion of its seasonal direct service between Hobart and Auckland for the 2026-27 period. Supported by a partnership between Hobart Airport, Air New Zealand, and the Tasmanian Government, the expansion includes a 28 per cent increase in seats and a 27 per cent increase in flights compared to the previous year. The service aims to meet strong demand for direct travel between Tasmania and New Zealand. In a broader regional context, international airfare trends are diverging between Australia and New Zealand. While average one-way international economy fares from Australia fell by 7 per cent between the first half of 2023 and the first half of 2026, New Zealand has experienced a 21.5 per cent annual increase in international airfares leading up to August. Experts attribute the rising costs in New Zealand to increased aviation system charges and jet fuel prices driven by Middle East conflicts, though travel demand in the country remains resilient. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-27: International airfare trends diverge in Australia and New Zealand International airfare trends vary by region: Australian economy fares fell 7% relative to inflation, while New Zealand airfares rose 21.5% due to fuel costs and aviation levies despite steady demand. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/international-airfare-trends-diverge-in-australia-and-new-zealand ### 2026-09-20: Air New Zealand expands Hobart to Auckland flight capacity Air New Zealand is expanding its Hobart-Auckland seasonal service, increasing flights by 27 per cent and seats by 28 per cent for the 2026-27 season to meet rising demand. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/air-new-zealand-expands-hobart-to-auckland-flight-capacity --- Cite as: Australia and New Zealand aviation trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/australia-and-new-zealand-aviation-trends