New domestic airline for New Zealand
Virgin Blue Airlines and its New Zealand subsidiary, Pacific Blue, are launching a new domestic airline for New Zealand.
Flights will start in November, with fares from NZD$39 on sale from today.
Initially the carrier will fly on New Zealand’s key trunk routes – Auckland-Wellington, Auckland-Christchurch and Wellington-Christchurch from November 15.
Virgin Blue Group of Airlines chief executive, Brett Godfrey, said: “The decision was not taken lightly as it is a major investment and a long term commitment to keeping the “air fair” in New Zealand.”
“The time is right to bring some much needed competition to the existing duopolistic market and we are excited to be opening up new travel opportunities for both the people of New Zealand as well as inbound tourists.
“When Richard Branson visited New Zealand in January this year to celebrate Pacific Blue’s third birthday, he promised that domestic services were something of interest to us under the right circumstances and at the right time.”
“We are confident the circumstances are now right and there is room for competition and an obvious need for market stimulation.”
The airline will take delivery of two Boeing 737-800 aircraft to join the Pacific Blue fleet and operate both international and domestic New Zealand routes.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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