Jetstar Starts Winter Melbourne Queenstown Service

6th Apr 2016

As the ski season in New Zealand is coming closer, many airlines in the region are preparing offers to please their passengers in this period. The latest to do so is the Australian Jetstar which announced it will start a new winter service between Melbourne and Queenstown.

The low fares airline revealed that the new trans-Tasman service will commence on 24th June and will last until 31st August. The route will be operated by an Airbus A320 and will be a daily one, taking passengers from Melbourne at 2:05 PM (Australian time) and arriving in Queenstown at 7:20 PM (NZ time) on flight JQ219. The return flight from Queenstown, JQ220, will depart from Queenstown Airport at 8:20 PM (NZ time) and will land at Melbourne Airport at 9:55 PM (Australian time).

Head of New Zealand operations for Jetstar Grant Kerr said his company decided to offer after-dark flights as a means to make winter holiday planning easier for its passengers, while also having more scheduling flexibility itself.

Mr Kerr said:

"Holidaymakers will be able to take more advantage of short breaks and spend a full day on the slopes before their flight home."

Acting chief for Queenstown Airport Corporation Mark Edghill said the new Jetstar service will be a massive boon for Australian holidaymakers.

He said:

"They can jump on a daily direct flight and be here in three hours, with five different ski fields and a range of world-class experiences to choose from."

The new service is in big part made possible by the $18 million investment Queenstown made in November to improve its airfield infrastructure. As a part of it, the main runway is now 45 meters wide, as opposed to the previous 30 meters and new approach lights were installed, which will be invaluable for any new night flights. The airport now also includes a new runway and a taxiway.

Jetstar, along with Air New Zealand, was a part of a working group that prepared a Foundation Safety Clause on after-dark flights in Queenstown.

Besides Jetstar, three more airlines offer flights to and from Queenstown ? Air New Zealand, Qantas and Virgin Australia.