Major airlines are touching down in SA, unlocking tourism, trade and tech opportunities with direct flights to the US, Hong Kong, New Zealand and more.
Forget annoying stopovers in Sydney or Melbourne. Top airlines are now flying direct to Adelaide – and it’s about far more than easy holiday getaways.
According to Adelaide Airport Managing Director Brenton Cox, the influx of direct international flights signals a fresh era for South Australia’s economy, global standing, and community connections.
“We’ve moved beyond comparing ourselves to pre-COVID,” Brenton says. “These new international flights mean South Australia is truly entering a new chapter of global connectivity and economic opportunity.”
Direct to SA: The big new routes landing soon
Here’s your essential guide to the major airlines launching direct international flights into Adelaide Airport in 2025, with several big SA firsts:
- Adelaide to San Francisco (United Airlines) from December 2025 – South Australia’s first-ever direct connection to the US, linking SA directly with Silicon Valley and California’s renowned wine region.
- Adelaide to Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific) from November 2025 – returning after five years to reconnect SA with a crucial Asia-Pacific business hub.
- Adelaide to Bali (Indonesia AirAsia) from June 2025 – the first-ever flight operated by an Asian low-cost carrier from Adelaide, offering affordable connections across Asia.
- Adelaide to Auckland (Qantas) from October 2025 – marking Qantas’ return to international flying from Adelaide and reconnecting us with one of our key international tourism markets.
- Adelaide to Christchurch (Air New Zealand) from October 2025 – Adelaide’s first ever direct sister city aviation connection.
Every seat matters: How direct flights drive our economy
Brenton says increased flights grow our state’s economy “one seat at a time.”
The economic potential from these new routes is huge – injecting millions into South Australia through tourism, education and investment, as well as boosting exports for farmers and producers.
“These flights bring people who directly benefit South Australia – spending in hotels, restaurants, attending events, studying at universities, or creating business partnerships,” Brenton says. “When visitors return home, they’re a walking mouthpiece for our city.”
“For exports, particularly our primary produce and premium wines, direct services mean exporting becomes faster, more cost-effective and more reliable, opening up export markets worth millions.”
Fresh routes, bigger opportunities
Executive Director for Trade and International, Department of State Development, Tim White says the growing roster of direct flights out of SA has already helped the value of air freight exports jump by 12 per cent in the last 12 months.
“For perishable goods like seafood, meat and yoghurt, direct flights add even more value by getting products on international shelves a full day sooner, ensuring our world-class products are delivered fresh to global consumers,” Tim says.
“As we boost our connectivity across the world, we’re creating new export opportunities and supporting local jobs.”
South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) CEO Emma Terry says the importance of direct international flights to SA can’t be understated – in fact, it’s one of SATC’s main priorities to ensure the world can easily travel to our state.
“It has been extremely rewarding to see some of the world’s best airlines committing to South Australia, which will not only bring high yield visitors into our State but put us on the must-visit list to their loyal customers,” Emma says.
“International visitors are currently worth a record $1.3 billion to our state’s visitor economy – and with leading airlines including Cathay Pacific, United Airlines and Qantas connecting us to our key international markets, I’m confident this will only grow.”
San Francisco calling: Adelaide’s first direct US connection
Nowhere is the potential clearer than with United Airlines’ new link to San Francisco, connecting Adelaide to Silicon Valley’s tech giants and enabling easy connections to cities including New York, Chicago and Las Vegas.
“United flying between Adelaide and San Francisco – it’s massive,” Brenton says. “They’re flying over existing hubs in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, choosing to fly directly here.”
“That’s the start of something really big – you’ve got the biggest airline in the world connecting Adelaide directly. We collectively have to pinch ourselves.”
“Just imagine Lot Fourteen collaborating directly with Silicon Valley’s global tech hub, or Barossa wineries forming new partnerships with Napa Valley producers,” he says. “It’s economic opportunity made real.”
Emirates picks Adelaide first – a huge endorsement
Recently, Emirates picked Adelaide for the global debut of their state-of-the-art long-range Airbus A350 aircraft. According to Brenton, this is another serious endorsement for South Australia.
“Emirates chose Adelaide because it sees genuine potential – economic strength, stability and a growing global profile.”
Being chosen by Emirates places Adelaide squarely in the international spotlight. As Brenton puts it: “As much as Adelaide is the most important place in the world for all of us, most people globally haven’t heard of us. But when Adelaide appears on the map of major global airlines, we become globally relevant”.
This visibility boosts tourism and attracts attention from international businesses considering SA as a serious contender.
Connecting communities and cultures – not just tourists
These new flights aren’t only about economic growth – they’re crucial for strengthening personal and cultural ties South Australians cherish. Brenton highlights the value of these links, especially given our multicultural community.
“Adelaide is a wonderful city, but we are at the bottom of planet Earth, a long way away,” he explains. “Direct flights ensure we remain outward-looking, closely linked with diverse overseas communities.”
Brenton says new routes like Cathay Pacific’s flight to Hong Kong and Indonesia AirAsia’s flights to Bali significantly strengthen our state’s international relationships.
“These flights ensure families remain connected and that Adelaide stays part of a global community, especially for people with friends and family overseas.”
Adelaide Airport’s big comeback and bold future
Domestic flights from Adelaide have soared past pre-COVID levels, with 7.6 million passengers in 2023–24. International travel is quickly catching up, approaching pre-pandemic figures with 958,000 passengers last year.
“We’re on track,” Brenton says. “Once we fully reconnect with markets like China and Europe, we’ll see even more growth. By the end of this year, we’re confident we’ll surpass pre-COVID international passenger numbers.”
But Brenton says it’s not about looking back. The airport is focused squarely on its ambitious vision for 2050, “aiming to be everyone’s favourite airport – seamless, connected, easy.”
“Right now we’ve got 12 airlines flying to 11 destinations, but our ambition is to keep growing. We’ve got a fantastic, collaborative ‘Team Adelaide’ approach, championed from the top of state government, working actively to put Adelaide on the global map.”
Curious about where Adelaide might fly direct next? According to Adelaide Airport’s 2050 vision, direct flights could include:
- Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines by 2030
- Thailand, India and South Korea by 2040
- London, Paris, Athens and Vancouver by 2050.
Qantas returns internationally – and more’s on the horizon
Qantas’ direct Adelaide-Auckland route signals potential for further international growth.
“Qantas coming back internationally is huge,” Brenton notes. “It starts with Auckland, but we’re optimistic it could lead to even more international flights, potentially routes like Bali or Singapore.”
Each successful new route encourages more airlines to see Adelaide as an attractive option.
Travel savvy – Brenton’s tips for making your holiday dollar stretch further
If you’re keen to travel but watching your dollars, Brenton has practical advice for budget-friendly ways to holiday overseas:
- Plan early: “If you can, book flights 10 to 11 months ahead – you’ll usually lock in a good fare without stress.”
- Stay spontaneous: “If you’re braver than me, and your schedule’s flexible, watch for last-minute deals. Airlines often release discounted fares to fill empty seats.”
- Know your low-cost airlines: “Indonesia’s AirAsia will offer reliably affordable fares to Bali and one-stop connections across Southeast Asia – perfect for exploring on a budget.”
Brenton explains how increased flights benefit everyone’s wallet: “All these new flights add supply. More supply means prices will be lower than they otherwise would, so that’s a good thing.”
But if you want to travel on a shoestring, Brenton says Asia is key.
“We’re very fortunate we’ve got Southeast Asia right on our doorstep,” he says. “I think about my time backpacking there – it’s still an incredibly affordable place to explore.”
Find out more about Adelaide Airport’s vision for 2050 here.
