Jetstar CEO David Hall moves a ninth aircraft to NZ

Qantas’ low-cost subsidiary, Jetstar has announced the introduction of a ninth aircraft to its New Zealand fleet to help service an additional 36 weekly return flights to the country’s three largest cities.

Announced this morning, the carrier said additional flights were in response to customer demand and would see the airline add up to 50,000 extra seats across its domestic and trans-Tasman network as well as introduce a ninth A320 aircraft in the region from15 November this year.

Additional services will include 20 extra weekly return flights between Auckland and Wellington as well as seven extra weekly return services between Auckland and Christchurch and between Wellington and Christchurch.

Trans-Tasman flights will also get a boost with four direct flights for Melbourne and Queenstown services and three more Sydney to Queenstown flights.

Jetstar Australia and New Zealand chief executive David Hall said the move reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to New Zealand and will help contribute to the local tourism industry.

“There will also be new jobs for over 50 Kiwis including pilots, cabin crew and ground crew in our New Zealand team over the coming months as we prepare for the ninth aircraft.”

Although the new schedule will deliver 131,000 additional flights to Christchurch, it will also see the cancellation of five weekly services between the city and Queenstown as well as one less flight per week between Christchurch and the Gold Coast and Melbourne.

See below for a complete summary of increased capacity commencing 15 November: