Jetstar NZ boss bails out

Jetstar New Zealand boss Grant Kerr. Photo / File

Jetstar's New Zealand boss Grant Kerr has quit the airline.

The airline said he was leaving this month to ''pursue interests outside the airline industry.''

Kerr joined the airline three years ago and had overseen a period of growth in capacity.

He had worked at Air New Zealand and his departure from that airline led to a bitter dispute over a start date which ended up in the Employment Court. Kerr won the case, which he described as draining.

The airline would not say where Kerr is going and he wasn't available for comment.

He has worked in the airline industry for 12 years and has worked in the electricity sector.

Kerr is in his mid-50s and spent his first 28 years largely in the Queensland Outback town of Cunnamulla.

Dean Salter, CEO Jetstar Australia and New Zealand said under Kerr's leadership the business in New Zealand had grown significantly, in particular our expansion into four regional destinations.

New international routes were introduced by the Qantas-owned airline, including transtasman services from Wellington to Melbourne and the Gold Coast and the first Jetstar direct New Zealand-Pacific Island route between Auckland and Rarotonga.

''We appreciate all that Grant has done for our airline in New Zealand during his time with us and wish him all the very best.''

The airline was starting a search for a replacement.