Brandwave

Air New Zealand vs Qantas:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Air New Zealand had more branded searches than Qantas among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand. Air New Zealand had about 375,000 branded searches, while Qantas had 122,000. Air New Zealand made up 38.4% of all airlines flying New Zealand traveller searches we track, and Qantas accounted for 12.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about airlines flying New Zealand travellers, Air New Zealand appeared in all five answers and Qantas in two. Air New Zealand was mentioned before Qantas in every answer.

Among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Air New Zealand, about 3 searches for every 1 for Qantas

Air New Zealand 375K searchesQantas 122K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Air New Zealand, mentioned in every answer we collected

Air New Zealand in 5 of 5Qantas in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Air New Zealand, named ahead of Qantas in every answer

Air New Zealand first in 5Qantas never first

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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, Air New Zealand appeared in all five answers. Qantas was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Air New Zealand was listed before Qantas in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Air New Zealand1st
  2. Jetstar2nd
  3. Singapore Airlines3rd
  4. Qantas4th
  5. Qatar Airways5th
  6. Virgin Australia6th
  7. Sounds Air7th
  8. Fiji Airways8th
  9. Emirates9th
  10. Cathay Pacific–
  11. +4 more

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

+4 more

See every answer about airlines flying New Zealand travellers

5 answers

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.

Is Air New Zealand or Qantas more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Air New Zealand and Qantas by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 14 airlines flying New Zealand travellers we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Air New Zealand and Qantas among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthAir New ZealandJetstarQantasSingapore AirlinesFiji AirwaysEmiratesCathay PacificSounds AirQatar AirwaysAir ChathamsVirgin AustraliaBarrier AirOriginairLATAM Airlines
Oct 202537.5%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 202537.9%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 202534.4%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 202639.6%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 202635.9%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 202635.2%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 202635.1%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 202633.8%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 202633.6%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 202635%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 202636.7%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 202638.4%23%12.5%7.8%5.5%4%3%1.3%1.2%1%0.9%0.63%0.47%0.37%

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

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand airlines flying New Zealand travellers in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. 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%.

  2. In September 2026, Qantas lost share of searches among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand, from 14.4% to 12.5%.

How are branded searches counted?

6 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Air New Zealand’s and Qantas’ 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

2 branded search terms

  • Air New Zealand
  • Grabaseat

Qantas

4 branded search terms

  • Qantas
  • Qantas airlines
  • Qantas Airways
  • Qantas flights

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among airlines flying New Zealand travellers

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