Brandwave

Qatar Airways vs Sounds Air:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Qatar Airways and Sounds Air were level in searches among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand, with an estimated 12.1K versus 13K branded searches, at 1.2% and 1.3% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about airlines flying New Zealand travellers, Qatar Airways appeared in two of the five answers and Sounds Air in one. Qatar Airways was mentioned before Sounds Air in two out of three answers that named either.

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

Who do people search for more?

Sounds Air, about 7% more searches than Qatar Airways

Sounds Air 13K searchesQatar Airways 12.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Qatar Airways, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Sounds Air in 1

Qatar Airways in 2 of 5Sounds Air in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Qatar Airways, named ahead of Sounds Air in 2 of 3 answers

Qatar Airways first in 2Sounds Air first in 1

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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, Qatar Airways was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Sounds Air was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Qatar Airways was listed before Sounds Air in two out of three answers that named either.

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 Qatar Airways or Sounds Air more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Qatar Airways and Sounds Air 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.

Qatar Airways and Sounds Air among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Sounds Air, Qatar Airways. 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 Qatar Airways and Sounds Air 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?

1 change

  1. In September 2026, Qatar Airways rose from 10th to 9th among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Qatar Airways’ and Sounds Air’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.

Qatar Airways

1 branded search term

  • qatar airways

Sounds Air

2 branded search terms

  • Sounds Air
  • Sounds Air flights

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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

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