1279shp
26th Jan 2004, 16:42
From the paper...
Beginning services April 1. Hmmmm!
@@@
Rotorua tourism has been given an added boost with Qantas announcing it will resume its jet service between Christchurch and Rotorua.
The announcement of a year-round service comes after Air New Zealand decided to resume its jet service into the city for a trial period over the summer.
Qantas has revealed it would begin flying the jets from April
1.
There will be seven return services a week, linking Queenstown and Rotorua via Christchurch.
The move follows a decision by Qantas to end its relationship with Origin Pacific, which has previously operated on the route on behalf of Qantas.
It is uncertain whether Origin will continue to fly into Rotorua. However, it is widely expected to cancel the service.
Rotorua Airport manager Bob Wynn said he could not comment on whether Origin would continue to use the city.
He said yesterday he had not yet had a chance to talk to the company. At present, Origin operates two services a day to Rotorua with its 63-seater planes.
If it decides to stop its services, the number of seats available into the city will remain much the same, with a Qantas Boeing 737 carrying 126 passengers.
However, Qantas' bigger planes are expected to be more popular with tour groups, who prefer to travel together.
Mayor Grahame Hall said it was fantastic news for Rotorua.
"They have said they will start in the low season and go right through. That shows real commitment."
Mr Hall said it would definitely make a big difference to growing the domestic and overseas markets.
"A lot of the traffic comes via Australia and if they can link direct
that will be huge."
It also vindicated the council's decision to buy out its partner in
the airport, he said. "We have definitely made the right decision."
Mr Hall said he believed there was still a place for Origin Pacific,
and hoped it would continue its service into Rotorua.
In September, Air New Zealand announced it was resuming its jet link between Christchurch and Rotorua for a trial summer period.
The airline has been operating a daily 737-300 jet service between the two cities since December 1.
The service will continue until May 9 .
Qantas' regional general manager for New Zealand and the Pacific, Allan Williams, said the company hoped the new route would appeal to domestic travellers as well as international visitors.
Seats on the new jet services will be available for sale from January 24.
Qantas, which began operating domestically in April 2001, has also begun flights between Christchurch and Wellington.
The company is now operating a fleet of five Boeing 737s.
From April 1, Qantas will operate 300 domestic flights each week, including 56 return services between Auckland and Christchurch and 45 between Auckland and Wellington.
Beginning services April 1. Hmmmm!
@@@
Rotorua tourism has been given an added boost with Qantas announcing it will resume its jet service between Christchurch and Rotorua.
The announcement of a year-round service comes after Air New Zealand decided to resume its jet service into the city for a trial period over the summer.
Qantas has revealed it would begin flying the jets from April
1.
There will be seven return services a week, linking Queenstown and Rotorua via Christchurch.
The move follows a decision by Qantas to end its relationship with Origin Pacific, which has previously operated on the route on behalf of Qantas.
It is uncertain whether Origin will continue to fly into Rotorua. However, it is widely expected to cancel the service.
Rotorua Airport manager Bob Wynn said he could not comment on whether Origin would continue to use the city.
He said yesterday he had not yet had a chance to talk to the company. At present, Origin operates two services a day to Rotorua with its 63-seater planes.
If it decides to stop its services, the number of seats available into the city will remain much the same, with a Qantas Boeing 737 carrying 126 passengers.
However, Qantas' bigger planes are expected to be more popular with tour groups, who prefer to travel together.
Mayor Grahame Hall said it was fantastic news for Rotorua.
"They have said they will start in the low season and go right through. That shows real commitment."
Mr Hall said it would definitely make a big difference to growing the domestic and overseas markets.
"A lot of the traffic comes via Australia and if they can link direct
that will be huge."
It also vindicated the council's decision to buy out its partner in
the airport, he said. "We have definitely made the right decision."
Mr Hall said he believed there was still a place for Origin Pacific,
and hoped it would continue its service into Rotorua.
In September, Air New Zealand announced it was resuming its jet link between Christchurch and Rotorua for a trial summer period.
The airline has been operating a daily 737-300 jet service between the two cities since December 1.
The service will continue until May 9 .
Qantas' regional general manager for New Zealand and the Pacific, Allan Williams, said the company hoped the new route would appeal to domestic travellers as well as international visitors.
Seats on the new jet services will be available for sale from January 24.
Qantas, which began operating domestically in April 2001, has also begun flights between Christchurch and Wellington.
The company is now operating a fleet of five Boeing 737s.
From April 1, Qantas will operate 300 domestic flights each week, including 56 return services between Auckland and Christchurch and 45 between Auckland and Wellington.