Jetstar sells seats ahead of flight permission

Photo / Supplied.

Budget airline Jetstar is advertising and booking flights from Auckland direct to Singapore - even though it doesn't have clearance to fly there yet.

But the airline said although this may seem unusual it is standard practice in the industry.

Jetstar spokesman James Aanensen said "it is correct to say that it is not approved in terms of the minute details but it's not unheard-of.

"It does seem a bit odd but I can guarantee that it's a standard formality for every flight. The airline is very confident that it will go ahead. It's not something they can do on the spot."

He expects the airline will have clearance between seven and 10 days out from the first flight.

Airline Industry Association chief executive Irene King said airlines do this to cut down time between approval and start-up because they don't know when they will get the approval.

The fine print on Jetstar's adverts say the flights are non-refundable - but King said if approval wasn't given the airline would have to refund passengers under the Consumer Guarantees Act.