MEDIA RELEASE
Waitemata To Woolloomooloo Nine Times A Week!
$199 Fares To Launch Pacific Blue’s New Auckland–Sydney Flights
Friday, 8 August 2008: New Zealand airline Pacific Blue today confirmed further international expansion, with nine
weekly return services from Auckland to Sydney to start in October and additions to its Pacific Islands network.
It’s the second new trans-Tasman route the airline has announced in the past fortnight. Pacific Blue’s new daily
Auckland–Melbourne fares went on sale last week. The airline will be taking delivery of another 180-seat Boeing 737-800
Next Generation aircraft in early September to fly the new route, bringing the total fleet number to nine.
Special Auckland-Sydney one-way launch fares of $199* are on sale now for travel beginning 14 October. Regular lead-in
fares will start from $299**.
Pacific Blue CEO John Bartlett said that the prospect of flying between two of the South Pacific’s key cities was very
exciting for the airline. “It’s a busy and popular route but we see it as under-served because there’s no low-fare
option. Pacific Blue will fill that gap in the market and we’re confident it will do very well for us.”
The airline also announced today that it would begin new twice-weekly flights from Sydney–Vanuatu in October. The
airline already has three flights a week to Vanuatu from Brisbane. It is also increasing Sydney–Fiji flights to daily
from the current five weekly flights.
Mr Bartlett said the new services were part of an overall expansion plan for Pacific Blue and it was also looking at
other routes in the region where choice of carriers was limited. “Low-fare airlines are perfect for short-haul travel.
Where ever Pacific Blue has launched a new service there’s been a boost to tourism because we stimulate the market and
make flying more affordable.”
Auckland Airport chief executive, Don Huse, said the airport was delighted to see Pacific Blue further expanding its
trans-Tasman services. “Pacific Blue is the first low-cost carrier to operate on the Sydney sector, which is the largest
single international route on offer from Auckland Airport. This announcement is yet more evidence of Pacific Blue’s
confidence in growing the trans-Tasman market”.
The new trans-Tasman and Pacific Island services will add 20 extra weekly flights to Pacific Blue’s schedule. “Four
years ago we started with just a few trans-Tasman flights a week. With the new services announced today we’ll soon have
over 290 international and domestic flights a week,” Mr Bartlett said.
As well as its famously affordable fares Pacific Blue also has New Zealand’s only free-to-join “Velocity” frequent flier
program, which lets Guests earn and redeem points on any domestic or international flight. Optional services available
on a pay-for-use basis include a range of in-flight drinks and snacks, Blue Zone seating with extra leg room,
Fully-flexible fares, carbon off-setting options, and video entertainment units on international flights.
*Fare is one-way for flights booked on the internet, $15 more by phone. Seats are limited and fare may not be available
on all flights or during peak periods. On sale until midnight Sunday 17 August 2008 for travel 14 October to 12 December
2008 or until sold out.
** Fare is one-way for flights booked on the internet, $15 more by phone. Seats are limited and fare may not be
available on all flights or during peak periods.
About Pacific Blue, Polynesian Blue, and Virgin Blue Airlines
Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue, along with Australian domestic airline Virgin Blue, operate a fleet of 68 modern
Boeing 737 and Embraer E-Jet aircraft flying to 24 Australian and eight international destinations including New
Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands.
ends