Pacific Blue To Offer International Connections

MEDIA RELEASE

Pacific Blue To Offer International Flight Connections

Pacific Blue today announced, that in conjunction with its sister airline, Virgin Blue, it will offer flight connections to and from New Zealand and Australia so that international Guests and their luggage will be able to connect seamlessly between the two networks.

Bookings for connecting flights can now be made on Pacific Blue’s website (www.flypacificblue.com), through a travel agent or through Pacific Blue’s Guest Contact Centre on 0800 67 0000.

The introduction of connections means that international business and leisure Guests will be offered “through fares” from their origin to their destination. For example, Guests travelling from Christchurch to Cairns can be sold a “through fare”, with the connecting or transit port being Sydney or Brisbane.

Baggage will be automatically transferred so travellers don’t have to go to the trouble of collecting their bags halfway and re-presenting themselves for check-in a second time.

The new convenient schedule allows for a minimum connection** time of 60 minutes in Melbourne and 90 minutes in Brisbane and Sydney for flights sold as connecting flights. This is intended to ensure that Guests have enough time to arrive at their connecting port and complete customs and immigration procedures.

Pacific Blue Chief Executive, Tony Marks, said, “While up until now our competitors have offered specials to Australia and East Coast gateways, they haven’t shown true commitment to low fares by offering them everywhere they fly. These ‘through fares’ offer New Zealanders an affordable way to visit more of Australia from the Great Barrier Reef to the natural wonders of South and Western Australia and Tasmania, markets that have missed out on competitive air travel until now.”

He continued, “This will also further boost our commitment to New Zealand tourism. With Australia being our largest inbound market we expect this will make New Zealand more accessible to visitors than ever before.”

Guests can book connecting flights on the Pacific Blue and Virgin Blue networks between the following destinations:

City Pair

For travel from
Mid-Week Mini-Fare
Christchurch – Adelaide 4 March $259* one way on the net
Christchurch – Cairns 4 March $219* one way on the net
Christchurch – Hobart 4 March $249* one way on the net
Christchurch – Launceston 4 March $249* one way on the net
Christchurch – Perth 4 March $299* one way on the net
Christchurch – Townsville 28 March $299* one way on the net

*As per industry practice all fares in New Zealand are shown in NZ$ and exclude taxes and charges. Fares are quoted ex-New Zealand and are for flights booked on the Internet. $10 more by phone. Mid-Week Mini-Fares are for travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only. Fares are subject to availability and may not be available on all flights or peak days. International flights commencing January 2004 subject to receipt of government approvals.

**The minimum connection time applies only to those flights sold as connecting flights i.e. not to standard single sector flights. Where a Guest does not book ‘through fares’ but opts for two single sectors to get to their destination, standard Virgin Blue rules apply, requiring the Guest to ensure they have ample time to re-check both themselves and their luggage.

ENDS

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