AIA gains Jetstar's new trans-Tasman and domestic flights

Auckland International Airport has announced that Qantas subsidiary Jetstar is to expand its trans-Tasman services and increase its domestic services.

A new daily Jetstar Auckland-Melbourne service begins in December, and a three times a week service to Cairns commences next April. There will be 24 weekly Wellington-Auckland flights from the start of November, up three, and Jetstar’s total New Zealand domestic operations will lift to 84 weekly return flights by the year’s end.

“These new Jetstar services fit extremely well with our strategy to drive more tourism into New Zealand through complementary destinations,” said Auckland Airport chief executive, Simon Moutter.

“We can certainly see the possibilities for growing inbound and outbound travel demand between Auckland, Queenstown and Melbourne,” he said.

“Similarly, we see opportunities to grow traffic between Auckland, Cairns and Asia,” Moutter said.

Jetstar has already announced the beginning of direct Auckland-Singapore flights next March.

Shares of Auckland Airport rose 1% to $1.98 and Air New Zealand fell 1.8% to $1.10.

Moutter said that when all Jetstar’s new services come into effect in 2011, the low-cost carrier will have over 100 return services on eight different routes, including four trans-Tasman and one long-haul international route, connecting with Auckland each week.

Air New Zealand and other airlines, has recently objected to Auckland Airport’s 25% purchase of Queenstown Airport, saying it gives the northern owner too much opportunity to monopoly-gouge higher landing and other fees.

Businesswire.co.nz

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