How popular isVirgin Australia?
In September 2026, people searched for Virgin Australia by name about 8,820 times in New Zealand, a 35.6% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 0.9% of all New Zealand airlines flying New Zealand traveller searches, placing Virgin Australia 11th out of 14 travellers. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about airlines flying New Zealand travellers, Virgin Australia appeared in one of the five answers and was the sixth most recommended of the 14.
Virgin Australia is the 11th most searched of 14 competitors and the sixth most recommended in AI answers.
Air New ZealandShare of searches 38.4%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
JetstarShare of searches 23%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
QantasShare of searches 12.5%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
Singapore AirlinesShare of searches 7.8%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
Virgin AustraliaShare of searches 0.9%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
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Top airlines flying New Zealand travellers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Virgin Australia was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Virgin Australia is the sixth most recommended of the 14.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Air New Zealand5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Jetstar5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Singapore Airlines4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Qantas2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Emirates2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Qatar Airways2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Fiji Airways1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Sounds Air1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Virgin Australia1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Cathay Pacific0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about airlines flying New Zealand travellers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which airline should I book in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best airlines in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best airline in New Zealand for flying travellers?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“airlines nz”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“cheap flights nz”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.
Which airlines flying New Zealand travellers compete with Virgin Australia?
Share of searches by month for Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Fiji Airways, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Australia. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Air New Zealand | Jetstar | Qantas | Singapore Airlines | Fiji Airways | Emirates | Cathay Pacific | Sounds Air | Qatar Airways | Air Chathams | Virgin Australia | Barrier Air | Originair | LATAM Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 37.5% | 22.1% | 11.6% | 6.1% | 6.5% | 4.7% | 2% | 1.3% | 3.3% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.72% | 0.88% | 0.29% |
| Nov 2025 | 37.9% | 22.4% | 12.4% | 6.2% | 5.4% | 5.6% | 2.4% | 1.3% | 1.8% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.91% | 0.72% | 0.24% |
| Dec 2025 | 34.4% | 25.3% | 13.4% | 5.6% | 5.9% | 5.2% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 2% | 1.6% | 0.98% | 1% | 0.63% | 0.27% |
| Jan 2026 | 39.6% | 19.5% | 12.2% | 6.4% | 5.6% | 5.9% | 2.6% | 1.7% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 1.1% | 0.94% | 0.74% | 0.31% |
| Feb 2026 | 35.9% | 21.7% | 14.1% | 5.9% | 5.1% | 5.6% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 2.1% | 1.3% | 1.7% | 0.86% | 1% | 0.35% |
| Mar 2026 | 35.2% | 21.6% | 10.8% | 7.4% | 5.1% | 8.5% | 2.9% | 1.3% | 2.6% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.73% | 0.68% | 0.79% |
| Apr 2026 | 35.1% | 21.2% | 14.5% | 7% | 7.3% | 4.4% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 1.4% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 0.86% | 0.65% | 0.33% |
| May 2026 | 33.8% | 23.4% | 13.1% | 8.3% | 6.9% | 4.8% | 3.4% | 1.2% | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1% | 0.66% | 0.6% | 0.38% |
| Jun 2026 | 33.6% | 23.7% | 12.2% | 8.3% | 6.9% | 4.9% | 3.4% | 1.4% | 1.6% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.77% | 0.61% | 0.3% |
| Jul 2026 | 35% | 20.2% | 13.4% | 8.2% | 7.3% | 5.1% | 3.4% | 1.4% | 1.6% | 1.2% | 1.3% | 0.77% | 0.63% | 0.39% |
| Aug 2026 | 36.7% | 21.6% | 14.4% | 7.4% | 6.4% | 4.5% | 3.1% | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.88% | 0.59% | 0.46% | 0.35% |
| Sep 2026 | 38.4% | 23% | 12.5% | 7.8% | 5.5% | 4% | 3% | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1% | 0.9% | 0.63% | 0.47% | 0.37% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 38.4% | 375K | 0% | +1.7 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 23% | 225K | +1.7% | +1.4 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 12.5% | 122K | -17.1% | -1.9 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 7.8% | 75.9K | +0.8% | +0.4 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 5.5% | 53.4K | -18.3% | -0.9 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 4% | 39.4K | -13.8% | -0.4 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 3% | 29K | -7.9% | -0.1 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 1.3% | 13K | -0.92% | 0 points | |
| 9, moved from 10th to 9th | 1.2% | 12.1K | 0% | +0.1 pointsmoved from 10th to 9th | |
| 10, moved from 9th to 10th | 1% | 9.8K | -23.5% | -0.2 pointsmoved from 9th to 10th | |
| 11, held 11th | 0.9% | 8.8K | -1.8% | 0 points | |
| 12, held 12th | 0.63% | 6.1K | +2.2% | 0 points | |
| 13, held 13th | 0.47% | 4.6K | -2.3% | 0 points | |
| 14, held 14th | 0.37% | 3.6K | 0% | 0 points |
38.4%
Held 1st. 375K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.7 points.
2.
Jetstar23%
Held 2nd. 225K estimated branded searches, +1.7% vs prior month. Share +1.4 points.
3.
Qantas12.5%
Held 3rd. 122K estimated branded searches, -17.1% vs prior month. Share -1.9 points.
7.8%
Held 4th. 75.9K estimated branded searches, +0.8% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.
5.5%
Held 5th. 53.4K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -0.9 points.
6.
Emirates4%
Held 6th. 39.4K estimated branded searches, -13.8% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
3%
Held 7th. 29K estimated branded searches, -7.9% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
1.3%
Held 8th. 13K estimated branded searches, -0.92% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
1.2%
Moved from 10th to 9th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
10.
Air Chathams1%
Moved from 9th to 10th. 9.8K estimated branded searches, -23.5% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
0.9%
Held 11th. 8.8K estimated branded searches, -1.8% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
12.
Barrier Air0.63%
Held 12th. 6.1K estimated branded searches, +2.2% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
13.
Originair0.47%
Held 13th. 4.6K estimated branded searches, -2.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
0.37%
Held 14th. 3.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Compare popularity between Virgin Australia and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Virgin Australia
13 comparisons
- Air Chathams vs Virgin Australia
- Air New Zealand vs Virgin Australia
- Cathay Pacific vs Virgin Australia
- Emirates vs Virgin Australia
- Fiji Airways vs Virgin Australia
- Jetstar vs Virgin Australia
- Qantas vs Virgin Australia
- Qatar Airways vs Virgin Australia
- Singapore Airlines vs Virgin Australia
- Sounds Air vs Virgin Australia
- Barrier Air vs Virgin Australia
- Originair vs Virgin Australia
- LATAM Airlines vs Virgin Australia
How has branded search demand for Virgin Australia changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?
2 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Virgin Australia in New Zealand fell from 13.7K to 8.8K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Virgin Australia fell from 10th to 11th among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand airlines flying New Zealand travellers in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, Air New Zealand gained share of searches among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand, from 36.7% to 38.4%.
In September 2026, Jetstar gained share of searches among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand, from 21.6% to 23%.
In September 2026, Qantas lost share of searches among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand, from 14.4% to 12.5%.
In September 2026, Fiji Airways lost share of searches among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand, from 6.4% to 5.5%.
In September 2026, Qatar Airways rose from 10th to 9th among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand.
In September 2026, Air Chathams fell from 9th to 10th among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand.
How are Virgin Australia’s branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Virgin Australia’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- Virgin Australia
- Virgin Australia flights
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Is Virgin Australia your brand?
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