Jetstar will base a seventh Airbus A320 in New Zealand from later this year, while the Qantas Group subsidiary is also examining basing A330s there to expand into long haul flying from New Zealand.
“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,” said Jetstar CEO Bruce Buchanan.
“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.”
Jetstar has not yet announced on which routes the additional A320 will fly, but noted that it would lead to the creation of approximately 50 new operational jobs. The airline also said that it is considering deploying one of its A330-200s into the market “to support the launch of first time value based long haul Jetstar international services to New Zealand.”
Jetstar claims that it is now the second biggest domestic airline in New Zealand, with up to 84 weekly return frequencies linking Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown. The airline also operates 38 weekly return trans Tasman services on six routes linking Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
