Auckland lies along natural great-circle routes connecting cities like Shanghai, Tokyo, São Paulo, and Buenos Aires Auckland Airport offers a faster, smoother and more humane alternative for travellers than the current junction of Los Angeles, says Marcelo Menoita. Photo / Auckland Airport
Auckland lies along natural great-circle routes connecting cities like Shanghai, Tokyo, São Paulo, and Buenos Aires Auckland Airport offers a faster, smoother and more humane alternative for travellers than the current junction of Los Angeles, says Marcelo Menoita. Photo / Auckland Airport
Opinion by Marcelo Menoita
Marcelo Menoita is CEO of the NZ Brazil Business Chamber
New Zealand stands at a pivotal juncture in the future of global aviation and trade.
While the world remains largely focused on traditional Northern Hemisphere routes, a transformative opportunity is emerging — one that could position Auckland as the premier aviation and logistics hub of the Southern Hemisphere and unlockbillions in long-term value for our economy.
The Southern Cross Project is far more than a flight route between Auckland and São Paulo. It represents a bold rethink of how goods, people, and capital move between some of the world’s most dynamic regions. By connecting Asia to South America via Auckland — and Oceania to Europe and Africa via Brazil — we’re enabling a new kind of five-continent flow, with New Zealand at its centre.
The commercial case is compelling. In 2023, trade between China and Brazil alone reached US$181.53 billion — a 6.1% increase over the previous year. Yet passengers and cargo must still travel inefficient routes through North America or the Gulf, adding hours, cost, and complexity to journeys that geography suggests should be shorter and simpler.
Auckland lies along natural great-circle routes connecting cities like Shanghai, Tokyo, São Paulo, and Buenos Aires. One example: the nearly 100,000 travellers who fly between Tokyo and São Paulo each year. Most must pass through Los Angeles, dealing with long delays, visa issues, and logistical complications.
Auckland offers a faster, smoother, and more humane alternative. Spin a globe, not a Mercator map, and Auckland becomes the obvious midway point. Yet we’ve barely begun to tap that advantage. NZIER analysis estimates the Southern Cross Project could bring up to NZ$1.87b in economic benefits over 10 years through deeper trade, freight, tourism, and education flows. These are not just forecasts; they are grounded in real trade data, airport capacity, and passenger modelling.
Airlines are beginning to take notice. China Eastern’s Shanghai–Auckland–Buenos Aires service, launching in December, validates the route and is expected to generate NZ$48 million annually in visitor spending. Other airlines are quietly exploring similar opportunities to integrate Auckland into their long-haul networks.
Infrastructure is keeping pace. São Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport—the busiest cargo hub in South America — handles 38% of Brazil’s imports and exports in a modern, 97,000sq m terminal. Meanwhile, Auckland Airport is undergoing a NZ$5.7b upgrade, including a new integrated terminal and expanded runway capacity. Transit facilities alone have grown by 80%.
Marcelo Menoita, CEO, NZ Brazil Business Chamber
The timing could not be more opportune. The pandemic and geopolitical instability have exposed weaknesses in global supply chains. Businesses are rethinking logistics strategies, seeking resilient alternatives to overstretched hubs. The Southern Cross Project offers precisely that: a future-proof, Pacific-based bridge between high-growth regions.
Brazil, the world’s tenth-largest economy, remains underexplored by New Zealand exporters. In 2023, our goods exports to Brazil totalled just NZ$127.4m. A direct air corridor could dramatically boost trade in high-value goods such as meat, dairy, software, and engineering services — while enabling Brazilian companies to access Asia-Pacific markets through Auckland.
There’s a powerful human element too. Around 20,000 South Americans now live in New Zealand, many of whom endure costly, multi-leg journeys to see loved ones or conduct business. Improved connectivity would strengthen family ties, boost tourism, and diversify our international student base.
Sceptics point to infrastructure constraints or demand uncertainty. But Auckland already processes close to 19m passengers annually, and the current expansion will increase that capacity significantly. Strong forward bookings and active airline engagement confirm the project’s commercial potential.
The Southern Cross Project is not just an aviation initiative — it’s a strategic leap for New Zealand.
As Asia and Latin America grow closer economically, the countries that connect them will benefit the most. We can choose to lead or be left behind. The map, the maths, and the market momentum are aligned. What’s needed now is political and commercial leadership. Wellington and Brasília must finalise the air-services agreement currently under negotiation. Industry and airport partners must coordinate to streamline customs and promote Auckland globally as the new bridge between continents.
New Zealand has long punched above its weight through bold ideas and global thinking. The Southern Cross Project is our next opportunity to lead on the world stage. The question is no longer if this connection will be built, but whether New Zealand will be its builder or merely a bystander.
