New developments in shipping: International shipping giant COSCO Shipping Lines launches direct flights to Wellington for the first time

The Wellington Centre report announced that starting from mid-September 2025, COSCO Shipping will begin weekly direct flights to Wellington as part of its ANE service.

ANE services currently cover Auckland, Tauranga and major Australian ports, and will now expand its coverage in New Zealand to include Wellington Centre reports.

MSC announced this development as early as May 2025, confirming that its Numea service will also start regular calls to Wellington from July 2025.

The improved ANE service will deploy three vessels, providing direct westbound services weekly from Auckland, Tauranga, now Wellington to Melbourne, Bell Bay and Sydney. The eastbound route will continue to serve Auckland and Tauranga, and now there is also a direct flight to Wellington. It is worth noting that the transportation time between ports will remain unchanged.

Andrew Locke, general Manager of CentrePort Business and CentreConnect, welcomed the news and said that MSC's Numea service and COSCO's ANE service would offer greater flexibility to customers and expand import and export options in central New Zealand.

Cosco Shipping also issued a statement, confirming the strategic importance of this expansion and pointing out that the ANE service has continuously increased the frequency and reliability in the region, while Wellington has expanded its port coverage and strengthened its services to customers.