The Qantas Group`s new trans-Tasman schedule has been welcomed by Tourism Australia`s Managing Director…
The Qantas Group`s new trans-Tasman schedule has been welcomed by Tourism Australia`s Managing Director, Scott Morrison. These new schedules will provide customers with more flights and travel choices, as well as around 1,500 extra seats in and out of Christchurch each week, Scott Morrison said.
These new services, especially the new Jetstar route between New Zealand and the Gold Coast, will help more visitors to get beyond our major gateways and travel out and into regional, rural and remote areas of Australia.
The new services have been timed to allow for easy connection to other Qantas domestic flights, making it easier for travellers from new Zealand to travel more widely, Mr Morrison said.
In addition to the new Gold Coast service, Jetstar will operate nine return services a week between Melbourne and Christchurch – replacing current daily Boeing 737 services operated by Qantas – and daily services between Brisbane and Christchurch, replacing Qantas` daily Boeing 737 services.
The new services, which will begin on 1 December 2005, offer travellers the choice between Qantas and low cost carrier Jetstar.
To remain competitive in the New Zealand market we need to constantly refresh our destination and provide exciting new experiences for international travellers, including our neighbours from New Zealand.
In 2004 there were more than one million visitors from New Zealand, which was an increase of more than 23 per cent in the number of arrivals recorded in 2003.
Consumers are becoming more demanding. They have a voracious appetite for what is new, so Australia has to maintain a freshness to what we offer to remain competitive and appealing as a destination.
Tourism Australia welcomes these new arrangements announced by the Qantas Group because they will help broaden the choice of potential Australian experiences for New Zealand travellers.
New Zealand continues to be Australia`s number one source of international visitor arrivals and Tourism Australia`s focus is firmly on growing the spend and regional dispersal of visitors from this vital market, Mr Morrison said.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
