Qantas subsidiary Jetstar has confirmed plans to start flying to as yet un-named regional destinations in New Zealand from later this year.
The new services will be operated by a fleet of five 50-seat Bombardier Q300 turbo-prop aircraft previously used by QantasLink in Australia.
The services are expected to operate to at least four regional destinations initially, with some of those under consideration including Hamilton, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Napier and Palmerston North in the North Island and Nelson and Invercargill in the South Island. Flights to and from these ports will connect with one or more of Jetstar’s current NZ domestic destinations.
Regional fares will go on sale in September, with the first flights taking off in early December.
Alan Joyce, chief executive Qantas Group said the time was right to bring Jetstar’s low fares to the regions.
“When Jetstar brought low fares to New Zealand’s key routes six years ago, it completely transformed the market in terms of value and now we’ll do the same for regional New Zealand.
“The community has been calling out for more choice and lower fares on regional routes in New Zealand because there’s a lack of competition.
“We’re answering that call by launching Jetstar flights to regional New Zealand, making air travel more affordable for people who live outside the main centres and boosting tourism and the economies of these areas.
“These new regional destinations will connect with the broader Qantas Group network, including both Qantas and Jetstar flying across the Tasman, to make these parts of New Zealand more accessible to international travellers,” added Joyce.
Jayne Hrdlicka, chief executive Jetstar Group said the local airline’s leadership in domestic on-time performance over the past two years, combined with improved customer satisfaction, had placed it in a positive position for regional expansion.
“Jetstar wants to bring real competition and stimulate regional passenger growth,” said Hrdlicka.
“When we first started operations in New Zealand, domestic fares across the country dropped by around 40 per cent, and we expect fares will drop considerably on the regional routes where we’ll operate.
“We have made travel more affordable for New Zealanders flying between the main centres. Now we’re bringing our passion for affordable travel to thousands of new Jetstar travellers in the regions, whether they are flying for leisure or business,” she added.
Jetstar executives will be visiting a number of regional centres over the next two months to meet with airports, local government, and business, travel and tourism representatives to determine the first regional destinations.
Qantas subsidiary Jetstar has confirmed plans to start flying to as yet un-named regional destinations in New Zealand from later this year.
The new services will be operated by a fleet of five 50-seat Bombardier Q300 turbo-prop aircraft previously used by QantasLink in Australia.
The services are expected to operate to at least four regional destinations initially, with some of those under consideration including Hamilton, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Napier and Palmerston North in the North Island and Nelson and Invercargill in the South Island. Flights to and from these ports will connect with one or more of Jetstar’s current NZ domestic destinations.
Regional fares will go on sale in September, with the first flights taking off in early December.
Alan Joyce, chief executive Qantas Group said the time was right to bring Jetstar’s low fares to the regions.
“When Jetstar brought low fares to New Zealand’s key routes six years ago, it completely transformed the market in terms of value and now we’ll do the same for regional New Zealand.
“The community has been calling out for more choice and lower fares on regional routes in New Zealand because there’s a lack of competition.
“We’re answering that call by launching Jetstar flights to regional New Zealand, making air travel more affordable for people who live outside the main centres and boosting tourism and the economies of these areas.
“These new regional destinations will connect with the broader Qantas Group network, including both Qantas and Jetstar flying across the Tasman, to make these parts of New Zealand more accessible to international travellers,” added Joyce.
Jayne Hrdlicka, chief executive Jetstar Group said the local airline’s leadership in domestic on-time performance over the past two years, combined with improved customer satisfaction, had placed it in a positive position for regional expansion.
“Jetstar wants to bring real competition and stimulate regional passenger growth,” said Hrdlicka.
“When we first started operations in New Zealand, domestic fares across the country dropped by around 40 per cent, and we expect fares will drop considerably on the regional routes where we’ll operate.
“We have made travel more affordable for New Zealanders flying between the main centres. Now we’re bringing our passion for affordable travel to thousands of new Jetstar travellers in the regions, whether they are flying for leisure or business,” she added.
Jetstar executives will be visiting a number of regional centres over the next two months to meet with airports, local government, and business, travel and tourism representatives to determine the first regional destinations.
