Qatar Airways vs Virgin Australia:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Qatar Airways had more branded searches than Virgin Australia among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand. Qatar Airways had about 12,100 branded searches, while Virgin Australia had 8,820. Qatar Airways made up 1.2% of all airlines flying New Zealand traveller searches we track, and Virgin Australia accounted for 0.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about airlines flying New Zealand travellers, Qatar Airways appeared in two of the five answers and Virgin Australia in one. Qatar Airways was mentioned before Virgin Australia in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Qatar Airways, about 37% more searches than Virgin Australia
Who does AI mention more?
Qatar Airways, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Virgin Australia in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Qatar Airways, named ahead of Virgin Australia in 2 of 3 answers
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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. 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. Qatar Airways was listed before Virgin Australia 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.
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.
Is Qatar Airways or Virgin Australia more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia 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.
Share of searches by month for Qatar Airways, 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% |
How has the Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Virgin Australia took it in April 2026, Qatar Airways took it in May 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Qatar Airways’ share of searches among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand moved from 3.3% to 1.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 33.1K to 12.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Virgin Australia’s share of searches among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand moved from 1.4% to 0.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 13.7K to 8.8K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand airlines flying New Zealand travellers in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Qatar Airways rose from 10th to 9th among airlines flying New Zealand travellers in New Zealand.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Virgin Australia in New Zealand fell 35.6% over 12 measured months, from 13.7K to 8.8K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Qatar Airways’ and Virgin Australia’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
Virgin Australia
2 branded search terms
- Virgin Australia
- Virgin Australia flights
Other head-to-heads among airlines flying New Zealand travellers
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