KEY POINTS:
Qantas has announced changes to its trans-tasman services, dropping weekend flights from Wellington to Brisbane but increasing flights to and from Auckland.
The Australian airline today launched its attack on the New Zealand domestic market, with its budget subsidiary Jetstar offering services from June 10 between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown for as little as $29 one-way.
Jetstar will replace existing Qantas domestic services, and the change means Qantas will no longer offer services to Rotorua.
Further changes include a new international schedule to and from New Zealand:
- changes to timing of the daily Auckland-Los Angeles service to provide a connection to Qantas' daily New York service;
- Melbourne-Auckland services increasing from two to three flights per day;
- Sydney-Auckland services increasing from four to five flights per day;
- cancellation of weekend services between Brisbane and Wellington.
The remainder of the Qantas' trans-Tasman services will remain unchanged.
"These changes are about adjusting our schedules to meet the needs of those markets alongside our own need to generate reasonable returns on our operations," said Qantas Group chief executive Alan Joyce.
"The Qantas Group is performing well in this difficult environment, but we are not immune from the need to address under-performing routes."
New Zealand was a key market for the Qantas Group and the changes would consolidate its presence here, following expansion of its Auckland telephone sales call centre to service the United Kingdom, South Africa and United States, he said.
Joyce said that from June 10, Qantas' New Zealand subsidiary, Jetconnect, which operates a fleet of B737 aircraft under the Qantas colours, would focus its operations on the Tasman.
"Jetconnect's current fleet will be progressively upgraded, initially with three new next generation B737-800s to be delivered between September and November."
It will see the last B737-300s retired from the Qantas fleet.
Qantas will codeshare on the new Jetstar domestic New Zealand service for all customers holding a Qantas international and/or trans-Tasman sector in the same itinerary.
"Group employment levels will increase, however there will be an impact on Qantas jobs in Christchurch and, to a lesser extent, Wellington," Joyce said.
"There will be some opportunities for Qantas and Jetconnect employees to take up positions with Jetstar. For those who do not, we will offer appropriate separation packages and support."
- NZPA
