Jetstar adds aircraft, increases domestic, trans-Tasman flights

Wednesday 19th September 2012

Jetstar, the discount brand of Australian airline Qantas Airways, will lift its New Zealand-based fleet by one aircraft to nine Airbus A320 planes while increasing domestic and trans-Tasman services.

The increased fleet size will lift New Zealand jobs by 50 to 550, the airline said in a statement. It claims about 20 percent of the New Zealand market.

The airline will add 20 weekly return services from Auckland to Wellington and seven from Auckland to Christchurch and Wellington to Christchurch from Nov. 15. It will commence four weekly flights from Queenstown to Melbourne and three from Sydney to help spur tourism in the region.

"These changes affirm our commitment to New Zealand and will contribute significantly to the country's tourism industry, providing economic benefits as well as contributing strong job growth," chief executive David Hall said in a statement.

The airline will cancel five weekly services from Christchurch to Queenstown, with "customers now finding it easier to fly to Queenstown directly than via Christchurch." Services will be reduced from Christchurch to the Gold Coast and Melbourne by one flight per week.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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