• Now accessible from Auckland for just $49 at Jetstar.com

Low fares leader Jetstar today touched down in Dunedin for the first time to offer fares up to 40 per cent less than its competitors.

More than 150 passengers travelled to Dunedin aboard the inaugural flight from Auckland, including Jetstar Chief Executive Officer David Hall, with celebrations taking place at Dunedin Airport.

The new daily service is a welcome tourism boost for the local community and broader region, just months before the influx of domestic and international tourists expected throughout the country for the Rugby World Cup in September.

Jetstar’s every-day one-way fares to Dunedin start from $89 one-way at Jetstar.com.

For a limited time, Jetstar is offering a special one-way fare of just $49 to celebrate the new route launch. The special sale runs for just for one day until 11:59pm on 14 July. Bookings can be made at Jetstar.com.^ (Terms & conditions apply).

Jetstar Chief Executive Officer Australia & NZ David Hall said Dunedin was the airline’s fifth New Zealand destination joining Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington and Auckland.

“We are excited to welcome the Otago region into our expansive New Zealand and wider Asia Pacific network,” Mr Hall said.

“Our new service represents an additional 129,000 additional seats between Dunedin and Auckland, offering the ability to tap into our broader, fast-expanding pan Asian network through a daily Auckland-Singapore A330 service.”

Tourism Dunedin Chief Executive Officer Hamish Saxton said he was delighted to welcome Jetstar to Dunedin.

“The additional seat capacity is particularly positive, with the Jetstar connections to Singapore via Auckland presenting Dunedin with additional opportunities for markets out of Asia,” Mr Saxton said.

“In addition, Tourism Dunedin has also been working to attract friends and families of students living in Dunedin to visit, and we believe this new service will be very popular for those travelling from Auckland.

“Competition is a great thing and with the new improved, sharp airfares I am certain we will see additional leisure traffic to our destination,” Mr Saxton said.

Dunedin Airport Chief Executive Officer John McCall welcomed Jetstar to Dunedin and the opportunities it brings to the greater region.

“It’s important to have choice and competition, and the market here is certainly interested in the competitive price offerings that Jetstar brings. The daily service means increased connection to Auckland, which is a key domestic market. It also makes Dunedin another touch point for people travelling from Southland and in particular Invercargill, which doesn’t currently have a direct service to Auckland.

“We look forward to building the relationship with Jetstar to deliver these opportunities for Dunedin and the Otago and Southland regions,” Mr McCall said.

Jetstar’s Auckland-Dunedin schedule from 14 July 2011

* Auckland – Dunedin

• JQ283 09:05 - 11:00 Daily

* Dunedin - Auckland

• JQ282 11.30 – 13.10 Daily

Additional information for passengers:

Passengers should note strict check-in time limits apply on all Jetstar domestic NZ flights. Passengers must have completed domestic check-in 30 minutes prior to scheduled flight departure. If passengers do not check-in within the required time they won’t be able to board the flight and may lose the fare in full. Full details at Jetstar.com.

^$49 SALE TERMS & CONDITIONS

Available point of sale New Zealand only. The sale commences at 12.01am (NZ time) on Thursday 14 July 2011 and ends at 11.59pm on Thursday 14 July 2011 unless seats sell out prior. This offer is for travel between 26 October 2011 & 14 December 2011. Conditions apply (fares subject to availability, selected days & flights only, excluding travel on public holidays & school holidays). Carry-on baggage limits, including size restrictions, will be strictly applied. Passengers with more than the applicable carry-on baggage allowance will need to check in baggage and charges will apply.