Jetstar's move to change the time of its Saturday Auckland-Dunedin flights is a timely boost for leisure travellers.
The low-cost carrier has confirmed its Saturday service between the two cities would change from the evening to the morning from November 1.
The service would depart Auckland at 7.30am, arriving in Dunedin at 9.20am, with the return service departing Dunedin 30 minutes later and arriving in Auckland at 11.35am.
The airline's New Zealand head, Grant Kerr, said the flight offered an improved low-fare option for weekend travellers.
''Our re-timed Saturday Auckland-Dunedin service will offer an enhanced weekend opportunity for Dunedin tourism, with Aucklanders able to take advantage of our low fares for either a one or two-night weekend stay in the southern city.''
The new time of the domestic flight also meant travellers departing Melbourne for Dunedin on Friday nights would have shorter transit time in Auckland.
Dunedin International Airport chief executive John McCall said the change was a positive move.
''The re-timing of this flight gives the leisure traveller another option of flight travel, which is great for the Dunedin market.''
That sentiment was backed by Gil Abercrombie, of Enterprise Dunedin, who added: ''We appreciate that Jetstar are constantly looking at improvements to service timings and we will do our best to ensure potential visitors are made aware of this positive timing change when we are conducting our trade activity.''
Jetstar
• Began daily domestic services between Auckland and Dunedin on July 14, 2011. Offers more than 130,000 domestic seats each year.
• Daily flights depart Auckland at 2.10pm, arriving in Dunedin at 4pm; return service departs Dunedin at 4.30pm, arrives in Auckland at 6.15pm.
• From November 1, Saturday flights between Auckland-Dunedin to depart at 7.30am, arriving in Dunedin at 9.20am; return service to depart Dunedin at 9.50am, arriving in Auckland at 11.35am.
SOURCE: JETSTAR
