Jetstar returning to 90% capacity

AUCKLAND: JETSTAR is dramatically increasing its domestic schedule for August, returning to 90% capacity of preCovid levels.

The uptick in services will result in more than 100 return flights across six different routes from next month, with a further 25 flights added to the schedule.

Jetstar Group chief executive Gareth Evans said flight booking exceeded expectations in the first month the airline resumed domestic flights — when it was at 60% of the preCovid flight schedule.

‘‘It’s no secret that New Zealanders love to travel, and demand for our low fares to popular leisure destinations, such as Queenstown and Dunedin, have been really strong,’’ he said.

‘‘We have also seen an increase in the number of customers flying for business, specifically between Auckland and Wellington.

‘‘While many other countries are operating a limited domestic network due to Covid19related restrictions, it’s exciting to see the local tourism market in New Zealand going from strength to strength.’’

Services between Wellington and Queenstown would resume for the peak of the winter season, while Jetstar planned to reassess its domestic schedule from November, Mr Evans said.

The rise in domestic flights would allow more tourists to travel to New Zealand’s regional areas to support local businesses rebuilding from the pandemic, Mr Evans said.

‘‘We’ll continue to monitor our network and add more flights in the coming months where there is demand.’’

Last week Air New Zealand announced it too was ramping up its domestic schedule, returning to 70% of prepandemic levels.

Domestic air travel has rebounded more quickly than forecast, meaning a 180degree turn at Air New Zealand on some roles.

Chief executive Greg Foran last month told staff that 100 cabin crew on its domestic jet and turboprop fleet had had their redundancies rescinded.

Air New Zealand headed into the July school holidays operating around 65% of its preCovid schedule, destinations such as Nelson, Napier, Palmerston North and Tauranga proving particularly popular from Christchurch.

Touriststarved Queenstown was a standout, with more bookings and capacity than this time last year, reflecting the willingness of Kiwis to fill the gap left by Aussies who flocked to the skifields. — The New Zealand Herald