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Jetstar’s fourth weekly service between Sydney and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands is slated to begin this week.
Commencing on 27 March, the Wednesday flights, joining existing services on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, will add around 20,000 seats per year between the two destinations using A321neo LR aircraft. Jetstar this month resumed services to Rarotonga following a one-month seasonal pause.
“We’re excited to be boosting flights between Sydney and Rarotonga from the end of March in response to strong demand from Australians wanting to enjoy the beautiful Cook Islands,” said Jetstar’s executive manager customer, Jenn Armor.
“The additional 20,000 low-cost seats each year on the route will give even more Australians the opportunity to fall in love with this tropical paradise, which is only a five-hour flight from Sydney.
“We extend our sincere thanks to the Cook Islands Government for its ongoing support of the popular route.”
Graeme West, general manager of Cook Islands Tourism, said the fourth weekly Sydney flight is “absolutely fantastic news” for the Cook Islands.
“Enquiry and demand from Australia has increased incredibly since Jetstar began direct services in late June 2023, and the addition of another flight is testament to that and very much welcomed,” he said.
Jetstar in July 2023 became the first Australian carrier to fly non-stop to the Cook Islands since the cancellation of an Ansett service in the early 1990s. With the addition of the Wednesday services, the route is expected to carry upwards of 70,000 passengers per year between Sydney and Rarotonga.
While Jetstar already flies from Auckland to Rarotonga, the Sydney route shaves at least three hours off the travel time. The only other carrier to have offered a direct service in recent years is Air New Zealand.
Jetstar is also this week beginning flights between Sydney and Busselton Margaret River in WA. The direct service, commencing on 26 March, will operate three times per week using Jetstar’s A320 aircraft, and is estimated to carry up to 50,000 passengers per year.
It is the second Jetstar service to operate from Busselton Margaret River following the launch of a Melbourne route in 2022.
