Jetstar is considering coming to Rotorua as part of plans to expand its domestic and transtasman services. The budget airline, which started flying in New Zealand in June, is already making an operating profit which it says could bring forward plans to expand its domestic and transtasman networks. Cities being consideredas part of the expansion include Rotorua, Hamilton, Dunedin and Invercargill. Jetstar's head of corporate relations, Simon Westaway, said Rotorua was an attractive destination and discussions with the Rotorua Regional Airport company were continuing. The negotiations would remain confidential until a final decision was made. Jetstar wasn't ruling out operating either domestic or transtasman flights from Rotorua, Mr Westaway said. "To be honest, it will depend on the proposition put to us ... if the airport wants to talk to us we will be happy to talk to them." Rotorua Regional Airport chief executive George White said the airport company had been speaking with Jetstar for a year and would also continue discussions with other airlines.
Rotorua Tourism Board chairman Warren Harford said tourism operators would support another airline starting up in Rotorua but, at this stage, wanted to give 100 per cent support to Air New Zealand, which will operate transtasman flights from December. The board was to hold a "think tank" next week to look at ways of increasing the tourism and accommodation sectors' investment in promoting Rotorua in Australia. The tourism industry contributed $1 million in "cash and kind" each year to promote the city in the Australia and it was hoped that would double at least for the first year of transtasman flights, Mr Harford said. While support was behind Air New Zealand at this stage, tourism operators would not want to deny another airline setting up in Rotorua.
Having two airlines operating from Rotorua would increase the city's capacity to attract more tourists and create a competitive spirit. "I have no doubt that there will be more than one airline here in the future," Mr Harford said. additional reporting - APN and News Media * Changes to transtasman travel, p8
