Jetstar goes cold on capital route to Dunedin

But it will increase the number of flights between Wellington and Queenstown as it adjusts its New Zealand schedule to match demand.

Jetstar’s chief customer officer, Catriona Larritt, said the airline regularly reviewed its schedule to ensure its frequency aligned with when customers wanted to fly.

Queenstown was a major drawcard for domestic and international tourists, she said.

‘‘Jetstar re-entered the Wellington to Queenstown route 12 months ago with three services a week, and from late October this year we’ll double that to six return weekly services,’’ Larritt said.

The three additional Wellington to Queenstown services would include sale fares priced from $35 one way, and regular lead-in fares from $84.

Larritt said Jetstar’s Auckland to Dunedin schedule of eight return services a week was unchanged, but the Wellington to Dunedin flights had not met expectations.

Passengers with bookings past May 29 will be contacted and offered alternative services via Auckland or a full refund.

House of Travel commercial director Brent Thomas said the biggest impact from the loss of Jetstar flights to Wellington would be felt by the corporate market.

But the extra Queenstown services would help drive domestic trips into the resort from centres such as Palmerston North, at the expense of Dunedin, he said.