The opening special is only available through internet bookings and only on main routes. These flights will all be picked up over the next few days and mainly by the first year students who will be returning northward to catch up with family and friends over the Christmas break. Routes are as follows:
- Auckland-Wellington: Five direct daily return flights from 15 November. A special sale fare has been launched of $39 one way. Usual fares will start from $69 one way on the net.
- Auckland-Christchurch: Two direct daily return flights from 15 November. A special sale fare has been launched of $39 one way. Usual fares will start from $79 one way on the net.
- Wellington-Christchurch: Three direct daily return flights from 15 November. A special sale fare has been launched of $39 one way. Usual fares will start from $59 one way on the net.
Encouraging Better Prices
These prices will still make kiwis feel better and maybe allow students to go home between semesters. The new prices are still about $20 cheaper, per ticket than previous prices offered which is a 20% saving. Southern students have been disadvantaged in comparison to their northern peers, in respect of keeping in touch with parents, friends and family because of the cost of traveling.
It has been a longstanding joke to Kiwi's because it has generally been cheaper to fly from Auckland to Sydney rather than Auckland to Christchurch. It is easier to leave the country rather than settle here. The scenery is stunning in New Zealand and it upsets many traveled Kiwi's that for some New Zealanders there is more opportunity to get set up and financial in another country rather than in New Zealand.
It seems that another airline eying up our skies is Tiger Airways from Singapore. They are due to commence business in Australia in November. Air New Zealand has stated that the market is too small in New Zealand for three domestic airlines.
There was another company that has also put its plans on hold, Kiwijet, who are based in Nelson who were hoping to fill the space left by Origin Pacific, the company that collapsed a year ago. All interest in the skies around New Zealand could mean a major overhaul in general and that could mean better services and prices in general for Kiwi travelers.
