The airline will base an extra A320 in Christchurch from December, bringing its total NZ fleet to eight, and launch new routes from Auckland to Sunshine Coast and Christchurch to Cairns, as well as increasing capacity on domestic routes including Christchurch–Auckland and Auckland–Wellington.

Boeing is facing more criticism of its standards after it revealed that its Starliner spacecraft has indefinitely delayed its return to Earth after docking with the International Space Station.

The news significantly follows the country’s request to acquire the ADF’s now-scrapped MRH-90 Taipan helicopter fleet in late December last year, which the federal government rejected.

Administrator Hall Chadwick said it was working with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to “accelerate the process” of claiming payment under the Fair Entitlement Guarantee.