Virgin seeks NZ flights

Australian airline Virgin Blue has applied for regulatory permission to start flying to New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu by October.

The airline, which has long talked of flying the Tasman, says it cannot give details of how often it will come to New Zealand until it knows whether the proposed Air New Zealand-Qantas alliance is allowed to proceed, and under what conditions.

Amanda Bolger of Virgin Blue said the application to the International Air Services Commission was another step in expanding services.

"It's a very long process, this is another jigsaw piece in the puzzle ... the level of competition we can offer will be dependent on the outcome of the Air NZ-Qantas application."

Virgin Blue has asked regulators to require Air New Zealand to sell its low-cost Freedom Air brand as part of any alliance deal.

Submissions to the Commerce Commission, commenting on its draft decision rejecting the Air NZ-Qantas alliance, are due in this Friday.