Virgin Blue - NZ Press release
LATEST: Australian airline Pacific Blue has ushered in a new era of competition in New Zealand skies, offering $39 special fare flights on trunk routes in this country.
Flights will lift off from November 15, reporters were told today as more details were revealed about the move, which puts Pacific Blue into direct competition with Air New Zealand and Qantas.
Intitially the carrier will fly on key trunk routes: Auckland-Wellington, Auckland-Christchurch and Wellington-Christchurch.
There would be five direct daily return flights from November 15, the airline said.
The $39 fare was a special sale fare, one-way, purchased on the internet.
It was available from now until September 16 – or until sold, and was for travel from November 15 to February 29, 2008.
Other fares would start from $69 one-way on the internet, which Pacific Blue said was 22 per cent lower than existing fares available on the same route.
Virgin Group chairman Sir Richard Branson said he was "absolutely delighted to announce that Pacific Blue will soon be shaking up the New Zealand domestic market".
"We look forward to Pacific Blue spreading its wings and bringing long-term domestic bliss, perhaps not for the competition, but certainly for locals and visitors travelling within New Zealand."
Pacific Blue will take delivery of two Boeing 737-800 aircraft to join its fleet and operate both international and domestic New Zealand routes.
The Dominion Post