Jetstar has announced it will base an additional two Airbus A320s in New Zealand to assist its growth in domestic services as Pacific Blue prepares to exit the market from October.
The first additional aircraft will arrive in December this year, making it the seventh A320 based in New Zealand, while an eighth will follow in the end of the year or early 2011. The aircraft will help boost frequencies on a number of domestic routes, with Jetstar expected to boost its frequencies from Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington ahead of the Rugby World Cup in 2011 as well as its established plans to up trans-Tasman frequencies.
“Jetstar seeks to offer even more of our every day, low fares to Kiwi passengers to make it easier, more convenient and affordable for them to travel around the country and at the same time connect into our growing international network to and from New Zealand,” said CEO Bruce Buchanan.
Jetstar announced the increase within hours of Pacific Blue announcing that it would end its services within New Zealand from October 18 as part of a major strategic realignment of the Virgin Blue group of airlines. It is understood that the Pacific Blue services have been incurring heavy losses over the three years they have been operating.
