Jetstar begins Cairns-Auckland flights

Jetstar has launched its flights between Auckland and Cairns, and will fly the route three times weekly.

The flights from New Zealand are relatively convenient, leaving Auckland at 1830 and arriving in Cairns at 2210. 

The return journey is a red-eye night flight, however, leaving Cairns at 2300 and arriving into Auckland at 0530.

Flight times are 5h40 westbound into Cairns and 4h30 eastbound to Auckland, and use Airbus A320 aircraft -- not Jetstar's larger two-class Airbus A330 planes. 

That means there's no no business class -- or even Jetstar's premium economy-featured Star Class -- but that's standard for the route. 

Air New Zealand is the only other airline to fly between Auckland and Cairns, and it doesn't use aircraft with business class seats either. It does offer a "middle seat blocked" option called Works Deluxe, usually at a premium of NZ$150 (A$112).

It'll be up to business travellers to figure out whether the convenience of direct flights outweighs the discomfort of all-economy seating on the route.

Jetstar's flights operate on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, which is complementary to Air New Zealand's schedule of Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. 

Both airlines offer one-way flights at no cost penalty, so it's simple to mix and match schedules.

John Walton

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.