CHRISTCHURCH AIRPORT – MIXED FEELINGS AFTER JETSTAR ANNOUNCEMENT

MIXED FEELINGS FOLLOW JETSTAR ANNOUNCEMENT

2012-09-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — There are mixed feelings at Christchurch Airport today after Jetstar’s announcement of increased domestic services from mid-November.

Chief Executive Jim Boult says the airline’s growth is welcome news, as is the announcement of increased services on the main trunk routes.

“This will mean an extra 131,000 additional seats into Christchurch each year, which is, of course, good news,” says Mr Boult.

“We are New Zealand’s second largest airport, so the extra services between Christchurch and Wellington are sure to be well received, as will the timings of the services between Christchurch and Auckland.

“However we are surprised and disappointed to see five weekly services between Christchurch and Queenstown suspended.

“Christchurch Airport is acknowledged as the gateway to the South Island, with five times the volume of any other airport in the South Island. That volume, of both people and freight, is sure to increase as the city’s rebuild changes up a gear, so we are surprised Jetstar is not positioning to take advantage of that.

“We are working hard to bring the world south, talking to international airlines interested in flying here. The Government’s recent relaxing of Air Service Agreements effectively mean Open Skies over Christchurch for the next four years, which is attractive to airlines.”

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