"Ever since the first flight landed in December 2009, our goal has been to increase the number of transtasman flights between Rotorua and Sydney. [This] is an exciting development for the airport and local tourism industry."
Mr White said many passengers travelled between Sydney and Rotorua during the summer period for family reasons, but others also chose to spend their summer break in Rotorua and the Central Park region.
"The Bay of Plenty has a reputation as a summer mecca with its beaches, fishing and New Year's festivities, while others are attracted to the world-class mountain biking in Rotorua's backyard, tramping in the national parks or the region's cultural and gourmet attractions."
He also pointed to events during the December/January period that Australian visitors could go to using the direct Rotorua flights and said work was under way to promote the additional summer flights in Sydney.
Late last year, the airline also announced the return of domestic jet services out of Rotorua from November this year.
"The summer is shaping up to be an exciting period for the airport and the local Rotorua community with the additional transtasman flights and the resumption of jet services between Rotorua, Christchurch and Queenstown," Mr White said.
Destination Rotorua Marketing general manager Oscar Nathan said any extra transtasman flights were a great opportunity to sell Rotorua as a short-break destination from Sydney.
"It will allow us to start showing off some of the summer events and activities we have here."
He congratulated Air New Zealand and Rotorua Airport for identifying a peak time when there was demand for increased capacity.
"Now we have to create great reasons for Australians to come and enjoy our summer season and encourage travel across the Tasman."
He said it would add impetus to the inroads being made into the mountain biking fraternity in Australia - especially with the new bike assembly area at the airport.
