Facebook page launched in support of Jetstar plans

ALL ABOARD: Hawke's Bay Tourism general manager Annie Dundas, left, Crown Hotel general manager Michele Cole, Hastings District councillor and businesswoman Adrienne Pierce, and Chamber of Commerce chief executive Wayne Walford were at the airport yesterday to support Tukituki MP Craig Foss, who has launched a Facebook page encouraging Jetstar to fly to the region. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR

A Facebook page set up by Tukituki MP Craig Foss to encourage Jetstar to fly to Hawke's Bay has won support from regional business and tourism leaders.

Mr Foss launched the page yesterday, saying he hoped it would become a forum for showing the low-cost airline there was widespread interest in including Hawke's Bay in its plans to expand services to several regional destinations, before the year's end.

"We can send a strong message to the Jetstar decision-makers that we welcome competition at our airport," Mr Foss said.

"Let's get as many 'likes' as possible from the Bay, and from people thinking about visiting, to show support for Jetstar adding Hawke's Bay to their network. Our families and businesses welcome airline competition." The airline said last week it would add five 50-seat Bombardier Q300 turbo-prop aircraft to its fleet in December so it could fly to at least four additional regional centres.

Hawke's Bay Airport is one of the destinations being considered, alongside Hamilton, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Nelson and Invercargill.

Currently, only Air New Zealand operates services to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch from Hawke's Bay.

Sounds Air is hoping to establish direct flights between Hawke's Bay and Blenheim by August.

A final decision on whether Hawke's Bay is among the new Jetstar routes is likely to be announced in September, when tickets are due to go on sale. Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce chief executive Wayne Walford, among the members of the business community joining Mr Foss for his announcement, said Jetstar's arrival in the region would provide opportunities for business growth, and better connect the region with the rest of the world.

"Adding something extra to this region will be good for the region," he said.

Michele Cole, general manager of Ahuriri's Crown Hotel, said more flights would mean more visitors coming to the region and a boost for accommodation providers and economic activity.

Hawke's Bay Tourism general manager Annie Dundas said competition between carriers would be welcome.

"We get a lot of feedback that we're either hard to get to because flights are full or prices are high. This would just give people more options. Frequency [of flights] is also important, so we need to ensure we don't lose any of the frequency we have but competition is good."

- The page can be found at: facebook.com/HawkesBayWelcomesJetstarFlights