Virgin Blue on flying visit to Wellington

4.00 pm

Australian budget airline Virgin Blue has made its first visit to New Zealand - landing a brand-new Boeing 737-700 at Wellington Airport.

The aircraft has stopped off here on its maiden voyage from Seattle, in the United States, before heading to Australia.

However, the airline hopes there will be many more visits in future - it wants to start a domestic service here by Christmas that will compete with no-frills Freedom Air.

Virgin chief executive Brett Godfrey flew in on the plane. Tomorrow, he will meet the Civil Aviation Authority and transport minister Mark Gosche to discuss the rules which must be met to operate within New Zealand.

One thousand spectators and 25 journalists were at the airport to greet the bright-red Boeing.