Qantas customers will be able to fly direct from Perth to Auckland again later this year, following the success of the new twice-weekly service introduced last summer.

The seasonal service will operate from 5 December 2014 through to 26 April 2015 and fares on the non-stop service are inclusive of baggage, food and wine and inflight entertainment.

Qantas CEO International Simon Hickey said customer demand for last year’s three month seasonal service had exceeded expectations on the otherwise monopoly route between Perth and Auckland.

“We’re pleased this service proved to be so popular for our Perth customers. We’ve extended its run this year to meet demand with 84 flights and almost 20,000 seats over the five months,” said Mr Hickey.

“This service will be operated by an A330 aircraft that would otherwise be sitting on the tarmac over the weekend.

“This is part of our strategy to become more dynamic and flexible in response to market opportunities. We’ve similarly announced seasonal services between Perth and Singapore to cater for the July school holidays, and we’ll look at other opportunities down the track,” added Mr Hickey.

The seasonal services will also provide a boost to Western Australia’s tourism industry by making it easier for New Zealanders to visit Perth, whether for a holiday or to visit friends and relatives.

Schedule as follows:

Flight                                       Depart              Arrive               Frequency

QF111 PER – AKL                 2030                0805                Friday, Saturday

QF112 AKL – PER                 1030                1310                Saturday, Sunday

The Qantas Group currently operates more than 200 flights each week between Australia and New Zealand.