Air New Zealand has announced it is increasing capacity on some of its regional routes following Jetstar's withdrawal from the market last month.
During December, the national airline will operate an additional 253 flights on its services between Auckland and Napier, New Plymouth, Nelson and Palmerston North, as well as Nelson and Wellington.
After that, it may pick up Jetstar's slack indefinitely.
"Air services are extremely important for regional New Zealand, particularly over the busy holiday period," says the airline's chief revenue officer, Cam Wallace.
"These additional services during the month of December reflect an increase of more than 15,500 extra seats to and from regional New Zealand."
Air NZ says it's investigating the viability of increasing capacity on the routes permanently.
The airline is also offering special airfares to passengers whose flights have been cancelled due to Jetstar's exit from the New Zealand regional market.
Newshub.
