Jetstar goes cold on Dunedin route
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 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,’’ 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 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, at the expense of Dunedin, he said.