Otago residents will be some of the biggest winners in the country when Air New Zealand slashes the cost of domestic flights in and out of Dunedin and Queenstown International Airports by up to 42%.
Air New Zealand Group Short Haul Airline general manager Bruce Parton said that, effective Monday, domestic airfares would be reduced by 10% on average to help further stimulate domestic travel around the country.
Fare structures will also be simplified, with the three fare types being reduced to two - Smart Saver fares and Flexi Plus fares.
Lead-in Smart Saver fares across all regional routes will fall by up to 23% and are aimed at stimulating travel, increasing the market and adding more tourists into regional New Zealand with flow-on benefits to accommodation and attractions, as the market recovers from recessionary impacts.
The new Flexi Plus fares will start at substantially lower levels than existing Fully Flexi levels, with reductions averaging 32%.
For example, the lead-in price for a Flexi Plus fare on the Wellington-Queenstown route will be $269, 42% lower than the old price of $461, and an Auckland-Dunedin Flexi Plus fare will be $299, 30% lower than the old price of $425.
Mr Parton said the new Flexi Plus fare would provide more benefits, including two free 25kg checked bags and the ability to change flights at the airport on the day of travel for free to any available seat via check-in kiosks.
"Our business customers have been telling us that their plans change regularly and that they need a fare that allows them ultimate flexibility on the day they are travelling.
"These fares give them that so there is no need to worry about a meeting running late and customers can return home as soon as their work is done."
From Monday, Gold Elite, Gold and Koru members flying point-to-point on Air New Zealand regional turbo-prop services would be able to drop off and pick up their bags directly at the aircraft, Mr Parton said.
"Frequent flyers on our regional routes currently watch their bag get off-loaded right next to them as they exit the aircraft, but then have to wait for it inside the terminal, which slows their exit from the airport."
This meant eligible passengers could present at Air New Zealand Link gates as little as 10 minutes before flights departed and spend up to 20 minutes less time waiting for luggage, he said.
Auckland-Dunedin
- Old Fully Flexi: $425; New Flexi Plus: $299; Change: -30%
Christchurch-Dunedin
- Old Fully Flexi: $214; New Flexi Plus: $169; Change: -21%
Dunedin-Wellington
- Old Fully Flexi: $314; New Flexi Plus: $229; Change: -27%
Wellington-Queenstown
- Old Fully Flexi: $461; New Flexi Plus: $269; Change: -42%
