Australia-based Jetstar is expanding in New Zealand. Photo: 123RF
Jetstar is expanding its services in New Zealand and Christchurch looks set to get the bulk of the traffic.
An extra aircraft will land in Christchurch on Sundays and four more trans-Tasman routes are set to launch in the next six months.
The new flights by the Australia-based airline will carry passengers to and from Christchurch to both Melbourne and the Gold Coast, and up the number of flights between Christchurch and Auckland.
Christchurch Airport's Aeronautical Development General Manager Gordon Bevan said it was a real vote of confidence for Christchurch.
Bevan said the new routes would not just be about "getting Kiwis cheap to the beach" but also about bringing a significant amount of people living in Australia to New Zealand.
He said there would also be benefits for consumers travelling further afield.
"What [Jetstar are] doing now is integrating their long haul schedules with their short haul schedules across the Tasman so that we can get to some quite exotic destinations such as Phuket, Vietnam, Bali and Japan."
Executive Director for the Board of Airline Representatives Cath O'Brien said the new routes created more opportunities for international travellers to connect directly with the South Island, which she said was an attractive proposition to people coming to New Zealand.
O'Brien said it was telling that the routes were favouring Christchurch instead of a larger international player like Auckland.
"What you're seeing there is air services growth going to airports that are easy to operate to and offer airlines reasonable prices.
"What we know about Auckland Airport is that it has a massive upgrade to do that that's costing $5.9 billion and that's causing prices for airlines to rise all the way to 2032 and probably beyond".
O'Brien said as a result, growth was being seen elsewhere in New Zealand.
Auckland Airport said it was firmly focused on delivering a resilient gateway airport to serve New Zealand travel, trade and tourism.
It said it was working hard to keep charges fair for travellers, while adding essential resilience to its infrastructure.
It said its domestic charges had been 40 to 50 percent lower than similar airports for many years and believed at the end of its current pricing period it would remain at or below other New Zealand Airports.
Auckland Airport said its Jetstar services were growing - up 17 percent domestically compared to last summer and international flying 32,000 more seats over the period.
It said high demand and constrained seat capacity was part of what is keeping prices high - with fares up a third compared to 2019.
Jetstar will also be offering a year-round service between Auckland and the Sunshine Coast, which it kicked off this morning.
Group Chief Executive Stephanie Tully said things would continue to grow.
"2024 has been a huge year for us in New Zealand and today's route launch is the beginning of an exciting period of growth," Tully said.
"With another aircraft arriving in Christchurch on Sunday and four more trans-Tasman routes launching in the next six months, we're excited to be adding capacity and cementing our role as the leading low fares carrier in the country."
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