City must prove flights viable (+video)

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick and Jetstar's Grant Kerr held a public meeting after airline officials visited Rotorua yesterday. Photo / Ben Fraser

Jetstar officials want Rotorua to prove it is a viable destination for its newly announced domestic air services.

They also did not rule out a Rotorua to Queenstown air link during the first of seven meetings at possible new regional destinations.

However, any Queenstown link would be via Wellington as the aircraft they plan to use on New Zealand domestic routes are unable to fly direct to the southern destination.

Rotorua was the first stop for Jetstar's head of New Zealand operations Grant Kerr, New Zealand corporate communications manager Phil Boeyen and New Zealand sales manager Mick Cottrell as they decide which four out of a possible seven destinations the company would add to its domestic air services.

The named contenders are Rotorua, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Napier, Palmerston North, Nelson and Invercargill. An announcement would be made in September with the first flights due to take off before Christmas.

Mr Kerr has said travellers could expect a 40 per cent drop in regional airfares when Jetstar started operating in competition with other airlines.

Yesterday morning the Jetstar officials met privately with local business people and Rotorua Lakes Council staff.

They then held a public meeting in the council chamber in front of about 60 local tourism operators, business people and members of the public.

Mr Kerr jokingly referred to the series of meetings around the country as "speed dates".

He said the key message he had heard from Rotorua was the need for a direct air link to the South Island.

But, Mr Cottrell said any southern air link could not just rely on tourism and had to have a reliable business component to cover passenger numbers during the tourism off-season.

Somewhat ironically, only Mr Kerr could secure a direct flight to Rotorua yesterday with Mr Boeyen and Mr Cottrell having to drive to the city after missing out on flights due to short notice.

Members of the public quizzed Jetstar staff on their national and international links with local businessman Ray Cook saying the airline should not forget the lucrative Rotorua to Auckland service.

Grant Kerr, Jetstar's head of New Zealand operations, was one of the Jetstar officials speaking at an open meeting at the Rotorua Lakes Council chambers PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Mr Cottrell said Jetstar's relationship with the airlines Emirates, China Southern and China Eastern could also provide potential benefits to the Rotorua tourism industry.

"They [Emirates] are very keen to feed into our regional network," he said.

Mr Kerr added: "Us going into the regions isn't about driving Air New Zealand out or taking capacity off Air New Zealand, it's about stimulating growth ... and understanding the opportunities available in each region and how we can help those regions grow economically."