Grant Kerr head of Jetstar Australia NZ, Craig Foss Associate transport minister, David Hall, Jetstar Australia NZ CEO. Photo / Warren Buckland
Grant Kerr head of Jetstar Australia NZ, Craig Foss Associate transport minister, David Hall, Jetstar Australia NZ CEO. Photo / Warren Buckland
Jetstar's new regional services touched down six minutes early as rival Air New Zealand placed a pointed advert in today's New Zealand Herald.
Jetstar said it was "amazed" at the Air New Zealand tactics over on time departure issues. Jetstar's operations center said its new regional service took off three minutes early.
Jetstar's 50-seat Bombardier Q300 landed in Auckland to a full water arch welcome from fire trucks on the tarmac after its flight from Napier.
The Napier-Auckland-Nelson service will be followed next February with flights to Palmerston North and New Plymouth as the Australian-owned airline challenges Air New Zealand on regional routes that have been very lucrative, depending on the number of full fare paying passengers aboard.
Air New Zealand has responded by dropping fares to match Jetstar's $9 introductory offers, announcing additional new planes and in today's Herald an advert showing a Jetstar jet with an elongated nose quoting the Australian airline's statement "We're New Zealand's most punctual domestic airline."
The departure data by both airlines is a source of friction between them with disagreement over how they're reported and debate over the validity of comparing the much bigger Air New Zealand with Jetstar. The Australian airline started flying main trunk jet routes in 2008 and although its entry was marred by poor initial on time performance, it has improved since. It says it has trialed routes and built slack into its regional services to try and avoid teething problems.
Politicians at national and local level have welcomed competition on regional routes which they say will help businesses cut costs and make travel for families easier.
A Jetstar spokesman disagreed with Air New Zealand's take on on time departures.
"Air NZ has finally dropped their fares on regional routes and now they are promoting our regional airline, although they haven't got their facts right. It's amazing what a little competition will do," he said.
Criag Foss, David Hall, Grant Kerr on the Jetstar flight from Napier to Auckland. Photo / Warren Buckland
Jetstar was proud of its focus on punctuality and reported results each month on its website, which Air NZ had stopped doing, the spokesman said.
"We'll respond as we always do - by bringing our low fares to more Kiwis than ever before."
Applause broke out in the ranks of Jetstar's ground and terminal teams in Napier as the airline's first regional New Zealand flight took to the air.
"This is an exciting day for regional airlines in New Zealand," was how Jetstar's head of New Zealand services Grant Kerr put it.
"It is a very special day for us and a very special day for Hawke's Bay because to start flying regionally in New Zealand is something we have been looking to do for some time - and now we are."
Jetstar chief executive David Hall was also on hand for what he called a historic moment and a timely one, as exactly 10 years ago Jetstar commenced its first international service into New Zealand.
"Now we are flying Q300s regionally here as well," he said.
"So New Zealand holds a special place in our hearts."
He said the passion and determination the Hawke's Bay's business, tourism and political community had voiced for Jetstar to fly to the region had been impressive and it was an important market for the airline to pursue.
