Pacific Blue will fly its first passengers from Australia directly to Queenstown on Saturday, September 5, the low-fare airline confirmed this week.
The Sydney to Queenstown link will the first on Pacific Blue's new twice-weekly schedule, on Saturdays and Tuesdays.
The addition of Queenstown, Dunedin and Wellington international links was announced on the same day budget airline rival Jetstar launched its domestic service to Queenstown on June 10.
The first low-fare airline to fly internationally to Queenstown will depart Sydney at 10.30am, Sydney time, and arrive in the resort at 3.35pm. Pacific Blue has a fleet of 13 Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which each seat 180 passengers.
The airline's website was yesterday quoting ticket prices at $397 ($A319) on "Blue Saver", $771 ($A619) on "Flexible"and $895 ($A719) on "Corporate Plus".
Regular lead-in fares start from $289 ($A232), one-way, on the internet.
Pacific Blue marketing and communications spokesman Phil Boeyen, of Christchurch, told the Queenstown Times that connector fares with Adelaide, Cairns and Perth would be marketed along with the Sydney to Queenstown service.
There was the potential for Sydney to Queenstown connections with the west coast of the United States "in the next couple of months", he said.
"The 10.30am [Sydney] departure time allows Pacific Blue to tap into the big markets, Melbourne and Brisbane, and connect with the Sydney flight to Queenstown.
"Pacific Blue has around 30% of the domestic Australian market and the demographic are active and adventure seekers."
Mr Boeyen said Pacific Blue's aircraft had Required Navigational Performance (RNP) technology. RNP allows pilots to fly to lower altitudes on a more precise and efficient route into Queenstown Airport while saving fuel, reducing emissions and lessening the impact of poor weather on services.
"With only two flights a week, scheduled for mid-afternoon, disruptions will be minimised," he said.
Air New Zealand transtasman aircraft have RNP. Jetstar aims to have RNP installed by May or June next year.
Parent Group Virgin Blue launched Pacific Blue as a New Zealand-based leisure-focused international airline in January 2004.
