More flights to NZ

Posted Wednesday, 16 June 2010 at 09:39 by CBT Admin
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Both Air New Zealand and Jetstar are expanding their flights to NZ.  This is great news for business travellers and leisure travellers alike.  See articles below. 

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NZ domestic boost

Air New Zealand will increase domestic jet capacity by a further 4.2% from September, taking the total number of services on its main trunk routes to more than 750 per week.

Air New Zealand general manager commercial Jeff McDowall says the move comes as a result of increasing leisure and business customer demand. “Our Boeing 737 services between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and Dunedin have been experiencing a steady increase in demand over recent months and this has given us the confidence to add an additional 180,000 seats onto the main trunk routes.”
This third capacity increase comes in addition to recent announcements of a 3.8% capacity increase across Air New Zealand’s entire domestic network from November and a 10.5% increase in domestic jet capacity from January next year.

“What this means for our customers is that we are adding a total of more than half a million additional seats on our domestic jet network from early next year – offering even more everyday low fares and increased frequency,” says McDowall. 

From www.bttbonline.com June 9 2010

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Jetstar expand NZ services
 
Jetstar has unveiled plans to further expand its New Zealand operations, announcing an additional Airbus A320 aircraft to enter service later this year, and actively review value-based long-haul flying in a first for this market.

Jetstar presently flies six A320s in New Zealand, evenly split between its fledging domestic operations and multiple daily trans-Tasman services from Christchurch and Auckland. Later this year, the airline will base a seventh A320 aircraft in New Zealand with the flexibility to operate on domestic or international routes from its existing NZ ports. In addition, Jetstar is currently considering deployment of two-class A330-200 aircraft to support the launch of Jetstar international services to New Zealand.

Jetstar chief executive officer Bruce Buchanan says the airline has planned for the development of a number of new markets with these aircraft and would be progressively unveiling the additional services over the next six weeks.“Jetstar now has a pathway towards future strategic growth in New Zealand through our ongoing success and strong customer demand for our low fare services,” Mr Buchanan said.

“With a well established brand, strong and efficient on-time operations, a partnership in growth with major New Zealand airports and a great Kiwi workforce, Jetstar is well advanced to deliver this next round of sustainable low fares flight expansion.”
During a visit to New Zealand supporting its first anniversary of domestic New Zealand services on 10 June, Mr Buchanan said the airline would further expand both its operations in New Zealand.

Jetstar operates a single class A320 family fleet ranging from 177 seat aircraft. Its A330-200 fleet, of now 7 aircraft, will grow to 9 by early 2011, and is configured for 303 passengers including Jetstar’s international business class product, StarClass.
Jetstar now operates up to 84 weekly return frequencies linking Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown.  An existing 38 weekly return Jetstar trans-Tasman A320 services operate across six routes linking Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

From www.bttbonline.com June 9 2010