OREANDA-NEWS. Auckland Airport has welcomed today’s announcement by Jetstar that it will start a new thrice-weekly direct service between Auckland and Adelaide.

The new service, which will commence on 16 December 2013, will be operated by an Airbus A320 and will see Adelaide join Sydney, Melbourne and Gold Coast to become the fourth trans-Tasman destination operated out of Auckland Airport by Jetstar.

Glenn Wedlock, Auckland Airport’s general manager aeronautical commercial, says he is delighted with the announcement and that it is fantastic to see the development of new services and low fare options from Jetstar.

“Currently around a third of the Adelaide to Auckland market has to travel indirect so the commencement of direct flights will naturally open up the market and stimulate more traffic,” says Mr Wedlock.

“With Jetstar’s strong presence in the Australian market and low fare options, we anticipate strong growth from Adelaide arrivals to New Zealand.  In the year-ending July 2013 arrivals growth from South Australia was up 9% when compared to the same period the previous year, while the month of July 2013 was up 19% when compared to July 2012,” continues Mr Wedlock.  “We expect that these new direct services will add an additional USD 10 million in value for the tourism industry from increased arrivals to New Zealand.”

“As well as this, with New Zealanders accounting for over half the traffic on the Adelaide to Auckland route, we expect that the new direct services will develop strong growth for South Australia as a destination, with its fantastic tourism products such as the famous Barossa region,” finishes Mr Wedlock.

Flights on the new route will operate every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from Auckland with the return service from Adelaide later the same day.