Origin Pacific goes flexible

By CHRIS DANIELS

Origin Pacific's new fare deal is aimed at earning top priority in travellers' minds.

New Zealand's second-biggest airline says the new fares give travellers a "genuine ability to change their travel plans without punishing costs".

Privately owned Origin Pacific was established by Air Nelson founder Robert Inglis in 1997 as a charter and freight service. Today, using 18 aircraft, it specialises in servicing provincial centres.

Chief executive Tony Marks said some fare prices had gone down, others up and the rest had remained the same.

Under the new fare structure, passengers who pay an extra $10 or $20 for a ticket have the right to change some features.

The $10 fee means a passenger can change the day, time, direction and name of the person flying.

An extra $20 allows the ticket to be cancelled up to 24 hours before flying, with a credit issued for travel, which must be used within six months.

The top-priced fares, which are fully refundable, can be changed up to 30 minutes before a flight leaves.

Origin Pacific has a code-sharing arrangement with Qantas, which competes with Air New Zealand on the main trunk route between Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Marks said the arrangement operated well, despite Qantas' ongoing attempts to form an alliance with Air New Zealand.

"I think everybody is watching what is going to happen and I don't think anybody's burning too many bridges right now."