From May to October 2026, the new seasonal service will operate up to 3 times a week with Airbus A321neo, with flights departing Christchurch at 3:40pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and departing from Rarotonga at 11:30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
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With 18,000 seats available to book across the season, there will be plenty of opportunities for Cantabrians to jet off to paradise during the winter months. The launch marks another milestone in Air New Zealand’s commitment to growing international connectivity from Christchurch, giving South Islanders even more reasons to head straight for their holiday.
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Nikhil Ravishankar says the new route strengthens the airline’s dedication to growing travel opportunities from the South Island. “We’ve seen strong appetite for travel to Rarotonga from our Christchurch customers, so this is fantastic news for the South Island. Launching this direct service ahead of the July school holidays makes it even easier for families to trade frosty mornings for tropical sunshine.
“Christchurch continues to strengthen its position as a key international gateway, and we’re thrilled to be part of that growth story. Every new route we launch from the South Island opens up more opportunities for our customers and connects our communities to the world.”
Route: Christchurch (CHC) – Rarotonga (RAR)
Frequency: Up to three return services per week
Depart Christchurch 3:40pm (Tue, Thu, Sat)
Depart Rarotonga 11:30pm (Mon, Wed, Fri)
Season: 26 May 2026 – 24 October 2026
Bookings available from: Wednesday 5 November 2025