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Jetstar has landed the inaugural flight from Sydney to Hamilton on its newest trans-Tasman route.
The JQ165 service, on board the A320 VH-XSJ, is the first international flight to Hamilton Airport in 13 years. It touched down shortly after 11am on Monday and will operate four times per week, adding almost 75,000 seats per year.
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Services will operate using a mix of Jetstar’s A320-200 and new A320neo aircraft. Jetstar now has three A320neos in its fleet, with the first having entered service last year.
This is the first of three new trans-Tasman Jetstar routes to launch in the next two weeks, with Gold Coast-Hamilton commencing on Wednesday and Gold Coast-Dunedin next week. The low-cost carrier also launched non-stop Christchurch–Cairns services in April.
“This year, we’re celebrating 20 years of international flying from New Zealand and 16 years of domestic operations – transforming the country’s aviation industry along the way,” Jetstar chief executive Stephanie Tully said.
“We’re excited to bring international travel back to Hamilton with new direct flights from Sydney and the Gold Coast, offering more low-cost options and exciting new destinations for Kiwis and Aussies.
“We know Kiwi travellers love our low fares and see huge potential for even more growth in the future.”
Hamilton Airport CEO Mark Morgan has congratulated his airport’s team for a “momentous day” on its return to international airport status.
“This is hugely exciting for Hamilton, for the wider region and beyond. For Australians, there is a new international gateway directly into heartland New Zealand,” he said.
“Here at home, it means Kiwis have another way to cross the Tasman that’s super-easy and affordable.”
The new service comes after Jetstar last year launched its biggest New Zealand expansion in more than a decade.
The airline based an extra A320 in Christchurch from December, bringing its total NZ fleet to eight, and launched new routes including from Auckland to Sunshine Coast, as well as increasing capacity on domestic routes including Christchurch–Auckland and Auckland–Wellington.
Auckland–Sunshine Coast now has three weekly Jetstar flights starting 13 December.
Jetstar also adjusted its flight times between Christchurch and Melbourne to improve connectivity with its long-haul international network.
