Brandwave

Air New Zealand vs Cathay Pacific:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Cathay Pacific had more branded searches than Air New Zealand among airline brands worldwide. Cathay Pacific had about 1.5 million branded searches, while Air New Zealand had 550,000. Cathay Pacific made up 4.7% of all airline brand searches we track, and Air New Zealand accounted for 1.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about airline brands, Cathay Pacific appeared in two of the five answers and Air New Zealand in none.

Among airline brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Cathay Pacific, about 3 searches for every 1 for Air New Zealand

Cathay Pacific 1.5M searchesAir New Zealand 550K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Cathay Pacific, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Air New Zealand in 0

Cathay Pacific in 2 of 5Air New Zealand in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Cathay Pacific, the only one of the two named

Cathay Pacific first in 2Air New Zealand never named

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Top airline brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Cathay Pacific was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Air New Zealand did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Delta Air Lines1st
  2. Qatar Airways2nd
  3. Singapore Airlines3rd
  4. Southwest Airlines4th
  5. United Airlines5th
  6. Emirates6th
  7. Cathay Pacific7th
  8. British Airways–
  9. Qantas–
  10. Air New Zealand–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • United Airlines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Emirates3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Southwest Airlines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Delta Air Lines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Qatar Airways3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Singapore Airlines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Cathay Pacific2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • British Airways0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Qantas0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Air New Zealand0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about airline brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is Air New Zealand or Cathay Pacific more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten airline brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific among airline brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthUnited AirlinesBritish AirwaysEmiratesSouthwest AirlinesDelta Air LinesQatar AirwaysSingapore AirlinesCathay PacificQantasAir New Zealand
Oct 202517.9%12%14.6%14.6%9.8%12%6.5%5.3%5.3%2%
Nov 202519.1%10.4%15.6%12.7%10.4%12.7%7%4.7%5.7%1.7%
Dec 202520.1%11%13.4%13.4%11%13.4%6%4.9%4.9%1.8%
Jan 202616.4%13.4%13.4%13.4%11%13.4%7.3%4.9%4.9%1.8%
Feb 202618.1%12.1%14.8%14.8%9.9%12.1%6.6%4.4%5.4%1.6%
Mar 202616.2%10.8%19.7%10.8%8.8%16.2%7.2%4.8%4%1.5%
Apr 202618.8%12.6%15.4%12.6%10.3%12.6%6.9%4.6%4.6%1.7%
May 202618.8%12.6%12.6%15.4%12.6%10.3%6.9%4.6%4.6%1.7%
Jun 202618.8%12.6%12.6%15.4%10.3%12.6%6.9%4.6%4.6%1.7%
Jul 202618.4%12.3%12.3%15%12.3%12.3%6.7%4.5%4.5%1.7%
Aug 202618.6%12.4%12.4%15.2%12.4%10.2%6.8%4.6%5.6%1.7%
Sep 202619.3%15.7%12.9%12.9%10.5%10.5%7%4.7%4.7%1.7%

How has the Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for airline brands worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Cathay Pacific rose from 9th to 8th among airline brands worldwide.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Air New Zealand worldwide fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 673K to 550K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Air New Zealand’s and Cathay Pacific’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Air New Zealand

1 branded search term

  • air new zealand

Cathay Pacific

1 branded search term

  • cathay pacific

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among airline brands

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