In its latest Domestic Airline Competition report, the competition and consumer watchdog noted the ambitions of the two newcomers to launch domestic services within the next two years, saying it would be good news for passengers in a currently highly uncompetitive market.

The inaugural JQ195 service from Brisbane arrived in Queenstown at 12:40pm Monday aboard A320-200 VH-VFH, marking the beginning of a route that will run three times per week until October. It is Jetstar’s fourth direct trans-Tasman route launch in under a year.

The regional carrier will no longer stop at Orange en route between Sydney and Parkes on morning and evening flights from 21 June to 15 August, though midday services will continue. It follows a Rex Saab 340B being forced to turn back to Sydney last week due to safety concerns.

Opened on Sunday, the $312 million interchange at Cecil Hills will allow “seamless connections” from the Westlink M7 motorway onto the new M12, which serves WSI and the Bradfield “aerotropolis”. It comes after the majority of the M12 opened in March.