Air New Zealand increases domestic capacity

Whisper jets will return to New Zealand skies in the coming months, as Air New Zealand increases its capacity on domestic routes.

The airline has announced that at least four of the BAE 146 aircraft, most recently used by the failed Qantas New Zealand airline, will be put into service from next month.

Rotorua, Queenstown and Invercargill are among the centres that will benefit from the extra flights, with the jets flying between Auckland and Queenstown, Christchurch and Rotorua and Christchurch and Queenstown.

The jets will free up other aircraft which will be used to increase services to other places. An ATR turbo-prop will fly to Invercargill from Christchurch. Hamilton will also be served with another ATR Wellington return flight.

Around 100 jobs for flight crew, cabin crew and engineers will be created. A large number of these jobs will be offered to former Qantas New Zealand staff.

Air New Zealand group owns the BAE 146 aircraft and leased them to Tasman Pacific to provide the Qantas New Zealand services.

The first jet is expected to be in service within a month subject to regulatory and safety approval, with the other three following shortly after.

Meanwhile, Qantas will announce its intentions for the New Zealand domestic market at a travel conference in Christchurch tomorrow.