Business travellers jetting around New Zealand this spring will have the option of extra Jetstar flights as the low-cost carrier puts on extra services before, during and after the Rugby World Cup. The flights will run between 15 September and 9 October.
That's good news for passengers heading to Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown in particular, who can expect flights to and within NZ to be difficult to come by -- and expensive.
Jetstar is adding an extra daily return flight between Auckland and earthquake-hit Christchurch, which won't even be holding matches. Christchurch is the springboard for the Canterbury agricultural areas and the hub for South Island flights, including the West Coast mining sector and Southland's agriculture and manufacturing areas.
Flight JQ253 will leave Auckland at 0930 and arrive into Christchurch at 1050, returning from Christchurch as JQ242 at 11.25 and arriving into Auckland at 1245.
There will be four extra Auckland-Wellington returns a week, and three extra between Auckland and Queenstown.
Wellington flights on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday will leave Auckland at 1315 as JQ261, arriving into Wellington at 1420. Return flight JQ260 will leave Wellington at 1455, with an Auckland arrival time of 1600.
The new flights will increase Jetstar New Zealand's Auckland base to five aircraft.
Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.
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