Emirates has teamed up with Pacific Blue to offer long-haul international flights from Dunedin and Queenstown.
Emirates New Zealand and Pacific Island manager Chris Lethbridge said the company had signed a contract with Pacific Blue to connect with long-haul international destinations, including Dubai, Europe, South Africa, Cairo and the South Asian subcontinent.
Travellers from Dunedin and Queenstown can connect with Emirates services in Auckland, Sydney or Brisbane.
He said the benefit for Queenstown and Dunedin travellers was they would not have to buy two tickets, or drive to Christchurch for their long-haul travel connections.
Emirates had introduced a range of economy and business class earlybird fares for travel in 2010 from Wellington, Dunedin and Queenstown, starting from $2385 return.
He said Emirates had been trying to get into Queenstown for some time.
"The Queenstown market is lucrative. People from Queenstown travel a lot and the new contract with Pacific Blue will make Queenstown more accessible and convenient," he said.
Pacific Blue, a Christchurch-based subsidiary of Virgin Blue, added routes to Sydney from Queenstown and Wellington, and to Brisbane from Dunedin, to its timetable in September.
Queenstown Airport Corporation chief executive Steve Sanderson said the new arrangement was good for Queenstown.
