Pacific Blue to start daily transtasman flights from Hamilton

Pacific Blue will fly to Sydney and Brisbane. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

Pacific Blue has confirmed the launch of daily transtasman services out of Hamilton, filling a gap left by Air New Zealand's withdrawal of international flights from the city.

From the first week of September Pacific Blue will fly six times a week to Sydney and Brisbane direct.

Connecting fares will be offered to Perth, Melbourne, Canberra and other Australian and international destinations.

To mark the launch, the airline today announced a two-week sale of special introductory one-way internet fares of $169 to Sydney and $199 to Brisbane.

It said its regular fares would be at least 25 per cent lower than fares currently available for connecting flights from Hamilton to Brisbane or Sydney on other airlines.

Virgin Blue Group chief executive Brett Godfrey said although times were tough the airline was always on the lookout to enter markets that were "under-served".

"As Hamilton currently has no international services in place, it was an obvious opportunity for us," he said.

The airline's commercial general manager, Adrian Hamilton-Manns, yesterday said it had been approached by Waikato civic leaders well before Air New Zealand pulled out of transtasman services in April.

'We've been looking at our options. We're not immune to what's happening with our competitors and what's happening with the greater economy so we have to play to our strengths and one of those has been in the regions, where we've received great support."

The airline was shuffling capacity and as a result of the new services, some flights from other New Zealand cities, including to the Pacific, would be reduced.

"There's a little bit of oversupply in some markets and not enough in others."

Hamilton Mayor Bob Simcock said he could not discuss details of the plans but said the airline could provide a welcome economic boost to the city.

"International flights are important for us because they bring income into the region. There has been a fairly strong expression of frustration with Air New Zealand's decision."

Air New Zealand has said the demand did not warrant continued international operations in Hamilton.

Mr Hamilton-Manns said his airline hoped to open up new domestic routes this year.

Pacific Blue will face added domestic competition when Jetstar starts next week.