• Over 10 million domestic customers flown since 2009 launch
• More than two million domestic passengers will be carried in 2016
• Birthday sale fares from $39* return

Jetstar is celebrating seven years of domestic flying in New Zealand with one of its biggest-ever birthday sales.

The airline has launched its Return for Free sale* this morning, offering a return Starter fare for free when a Starter fare is booked to a range of domestic and trans-Tasman destinations for travel periods in October-December this year and February-March 2017.

Grant Kerr, Jetstar’s Head of New Zealand, said seven years was a major milestone for the airline.

“It’s been a very big year for Jetstar’s New Zealand operations with significant growth and we’re delighted to be celebrating by offering thousands of more reasons to travel with us.”

In the past 12 months Jetstar has more than doubled its domestic network in New Zealand, adding five new regional routes and a new jet service between Wellington and Dunedin.

“We now offer up to 500 domestic flights a week across the country, connecting more Kiwis than ever before with our famously low fares,” Mr Kerr said.

“In 2016 we’ll carry over two million passengers on our New Zealand domestic network, which is a new record for us.

“This year for the first time we’re able to offer our highly anticipated birthday sale fares to our new regional customers, making this one of our biggest-ever birthday celebrations covering all our 11 domestic routes and a number of our trans-Tasman destinations.”

Jetstar launched its New Zealand domestic services on 10 June 2009 offering flights between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown using Airbus A320 aircraft.

Auckland-Dunedin services were added in 2011 and last year the low fares airline began regional services to Nelson, Napier, New Plymouth and Palmerston North using Bombardier Q300 turboprop aircraft.

“Over the past seven years we’ve flown more than 10 million passengers on our domestic network and we’re looking forward to flying more Kiwis around New Zealand than ever before over the next seven years and beyond,” Mr Kerr said.

Jetstar’s 7^th birthday Return for Free* sale begins today and ends tomorrow, Thursday 9 June 2016. Fares start from $39 Auckland-New Plymouth return, $49 Auckland-Christchurch return and $179 Auckland-Gold Coast return. More birthday sale details at Jetstar.com.

* To see if a $0 return fare is available customers must choose an outbound flight and search for a return flight for travel between 11 October-8 December 2016 and 6 February-25 March 2017. Fares may not be available on all flights or days, and availability is limited on school holidays and public holiday weekends. Both outbound and return flights must be purchased in a single booking and be between the same airports. Prices are based on payment by direct deposit/POLi or voucher for bookings through jetstar.com. For all other bookings a Booking and Service Fee of $5.00 per passenger per domestic flight and $8.50 per passenger per international flight applies. Checked baggage not included but may be added for a fee. Flights between Auckland and Palmerston North, Napier, New Plymouth and between Auckland/Wellington and Nelson are operated by Eastern Australia Airlines for Jetstar Airways.