Adelaide gets new international flight as inaugural Christchurch service touches down

Adelaide has been given access to more international connections after the first ever direct flight between the South Australian capital and Christchurch landed today.

The inaugural flight, operated by Air New Zealand, touched down this morning, marking the beginning of a seasonal service expected to increase travel options for South Australians.

The new route will operate two weekly return flights between Adelaide and Christchurch until March of next year, providing 15,000 seats. 

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"This is now our shortest international flight, four hours 15 minutes, it's very easy," Adelaide Airport managing director Brenton Cox said.

While Kiwis appear to be keen on visiting South Australia, the airline is anticipating strong demand for travel to New Zealand's South Island. 

"The general attractiveness of adventure in the South Island is something we see a really strong demand from the South Australian market for," Scott Smith from Air New Zealand said.

Airport authorities hope the Christchurch service will become a year-round offering, as long as the route is popular during the initial five-month period. 

"There's a really strong peak in our summer months, and then a very strong peak again in the winter months for skiing, so the key for us is to build up these peaks," Cox said.

In addition to the new Christchurch service, Qantas is scheduled to commence direct flights between Adelaide and Auckland.

More international carriers are also on the way, with direct flights launching soon to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific and San Francisco with United.

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.