Jetstar drops capital route to Dunedin
Low-cost carrier Jetstar is dropping its poorly performing Wellington to Dunedin route in favour of increasing flights between the capital city and Queenstown.
The airline has announced it will suspend its three weekly return flights between Wellington and Dunedin, with the final service on Wednesday May 29.
But it will increase the number of flights between Wellington and Queenstown as it adjusts its New Zealand schedule to match market 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 she said the Wellington to Dunedin flights had not met expectations.
‘‘We’ve been operating on the route for nearly 3 years and we’ve appreciated the support we’ve received from local travellers and airports. However, the route has not performed as we’d hoped.’’
Passengers with bookings beyond May 29 will be contacted within the coming days and offered alternative services via Auckland or a full refund.
Enterprise Dunedin director John Christie said the economic development and marketing agency had noticed a softening in passenger numbers on the route and would be looking into the reasons for that.
He said Jetstar’s decision to drop the Wellington route was nevertheless disappointing because it reduced the competition that helped keep fares down. The loss of low-cost travel would be felt by students studying in Dunedin, he said.
‘‘The loss of capacity is what we’re more concerned about over time. [We want] to ensure there are good options for those wanting to travel from Dunedin to Wellington – whether that’s business traffic, students or the leisure market.’’
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.
However, the extra Queenstown services would help drive domestic trips into the resort from centres such as Masterton and Palmerston North, at the expense of Dunedin.
‘‘It will be a boon for those in the lower North Island . . . because of the increased capacity.’’