MEDIA RELEASE
Pacific Blue Keeps The Air Fair As Air New Zealand Responds To Real Competition
Friday 25 January 2008: Pacific Blue says Air New Zealand’s new domestic pricing policy released today is an admission
that it has been charging too much for too long on domestic flights.
Pacific Blue’s General Manager Commercial, Adrian Hamilton-Manns, said Air New Zealand’s new domestic prices show that
it’s finally facing some real competition in the New Zealand market.
"We said we'd set out to keep the air fair in New Zealand and this is the result. Imitation is the sincerest form of
flattery so we take it as a compliment because really would they be doing this if we hadn’t started local flights? We
kind of doubt it." he said.
Inflation figures released this month showed that the cost of domestic air travel within New Zealand had fallen by
nearly 5% since Pacific Blue announced it was starting domestic flights.
"That's a good thing for the country, the economy and for tourism," said Mr Hamilton-Manns.
"Kiwis have shown strong support for Pacific Blue’s domestic flights so far and people recognise that our strategy is
working, New Zealanders at last are getting a fair deal on air fares, and that's good for everyone."
Pacific Blue is the first low-cost airline to offer a domestic service in New Zealand. The Christchurch-based company
operates a young, fuel-efficient fleet of 737-800 Next Generation aircraft and offers over 240 flights a week within New
Zealand and to Australia, Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga and the Cook Islands.
ENDS