Jetstar’s new destinations revealed

Jetstar's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner arrives at Melbourne Airport in Melbourne, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013. Boeing states that is uses 20 percent less fuel than any other airplane of its size.. (AAP Image/Juian Smith) NO ARCHIVING

Jetstar continues to ruffle feathers across the ditch, today announcing four new NZ destinations.

Qantas’ subsidiary budget airline on Monday announced four new regional destinations, with Auckland to Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Nelson services.

All the destinations will connect with Auckland, with one route between Nelson and Wellington.

The flights will be staggered with some starting from December and others from February.

“We believe the routes we’ve announced today offer the strongest opportunities to grow the market and make a real difference to local economies and locals’ wallets,” Jetstar Australia and New Zealand chief executive David Hall says.

The regional expansion will create 100 jobs for pilots, cabin crew and ground crew.

Jetstar was continuing to talk with stakeholders in Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga and Invercargill, Hall said.

The airline has a 17% share of the New Zealand domestic airline market, which is dominated by Air New Zealand.

It currently operates Airbus A320 jets to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown.

It will use five 50-seat Bombardier Q300 turboprops on the new routes.

It comes after Air New Zealand insisted it wouldn’t be beaten on its own home turf by an outsider last week.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce has said typically fares dropped 40% when Jetstar began flying New Zealand’s main trunk routes. He expects there will be a similar impact when the company begins its new routes.

JetStar is offering discount $9 fares to launch the new routes.

JETSTAR’S NEW ROUTES

From December 1:

  • Nelson-Auckland
  • Napier-Auckland

From February 1:

  • New Plymouth-Auckland
  • Palmerston North-Auckland
  • Nelson-Wellington

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