Pacific Blue to open Christchurch-Melbourne route

Virgin Blue boss Sir Richard Branson has announced Pacific Blue will open a Christchurch to Melbourne route.

The billionaire, who flew into Christchurch today, said the new airline would offer thousands of promotional one-way tickets for $99 between March 4 and March 27.

After the launch special is finished, Pacific Blue will offer one-way fares from $159 (mid-week mini-fare) with fully flexible walk-up return fares of $449.

Pacific Blue said the $449 return fares were nearly half the price offered by competitors for the same type of fare.

The airline would begin flights on the new route on March 4, a few weeks after it begins its inaugural route between Christchurch and Brisbane.

- NZPA