Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia will again fly between Perth and Christchurch next summer after claiming the current inaugural operation has performed well.
But there is no sign yet that the services will become permanent, a possibility flagged last year by the airlines.
This summer’s twice weekly service, which ends on April 26, has connected Perth and Christchurch for the first time in 20 years. The second seasonal 767 operation, again with two weekly flights, will run from December 13 to April 25.
The flights will be operated by Air NZ aircraft with Virgin codesharing.
“In this coming season we will offer more than 17,000 seats directly linking the two regions and we expect the flights to be popular once again with both leisure and business travellers,” Air NZ chief executive Christopher Luxon said.
Virgin Australia chief commercial officer Judith Crompton said it “made sense” to repeat the seasonal service.
“Stakeholders, including Christchurch and Perth Airports, trade partners and regional tourism organisations both in New Zealand and in Western Australia have embraced this service with enthusiasm and have all played an important part in its success to date,” she said.
Flights are on sale now.
