Auckland Airport welcomes new trans-Tasman service

Auckland Airport welcomes new Pacific Blue trans-Tasman service

Auckland Airport welcomes the announcement by Pacific Blue today that it is launching a new daily trans-Tasman service between Auckland and Melbourne.

"It is very pleasing to see Pacific Blue expanding its services," said Auckland Airport chief executive, Don Huse, "as the first low-cost carrier to operate on this particular route, we anticipate that this new international Pacific Blue service will stimulate greater demand for flying across the Tasman".

The new Pacific Blue AKL-MEL-AKL daily services equates to an additional 131,400 seats on offer each year.

Mr Huse added, "This announcement reinforces Auckland Airport's strategy of growing New Zealand tourism, and demonstrates the strong working relationship between Pacific Blue and Auckland Airport. Pacific Blue has helped grow the domestic market significantly since November 2007, and we believe this new service will further stimulate demand on the trans-Tasman sector."

Pacific Blue CEO John Bartlett said that international expansion was a logical next step for the airline following its successful launch of domestic services within New Zealand. "Pacific Blue's combination of low fares, a low cost base, and high quality service has proved a compelling success story and we're very happy to be forging ahead with growth plans" he said.

Mr Huse concluded, "Auckland Airport's infrastructure development programme, including the recently completed expanded international arrivals area and near-completed Pier B, has been undertaken to ensure that we have the necessary capacity to support projected growth in passengers over the medium term. We believe this announcement of Pacific Blue is an important step towards matching demand to that capacity."

ENDS

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