Second Sunshine Coast season for Air New Zealand and Virgin

Media release
20 November 2012

Second Sunshine Coast season for Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia

Kiwis will again be able to leave their winter woes behind and fly non-stop to the heart of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast next year with alliance partners Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia confirming a second season of direct services between Auckland and Sunshine Coast.

The direct service will operate twice a week on Tuesdays and Sundays from 18 June to 13 October 2013. The 17 week season is being extended next year to include the October school holidays, following the success of the 2012 season.

Air New Zealand Group General Manager Australasia Bruce Parton says the route has been particularly popular with New Zealand holiday makers.

“The Sunshine Coast has long been a haven for Kiwis wanting a break from the long New Zealand winter. Now they can do so without the1.5 hour drive to and from Brisbane,” Mr Parton says.

“Destination Sunshine Coast is rapidly growing in popularity and demand for the service is expected to exceed this year’s figures as awareness of the route grows.”

Virgin Australia Group Executive of Alliances, Network and Yield Merren McArthur says, “We are very pleased with the positive response to the Sunshine Coast’s first international service. Kiwis can also use the Sunshine Coast as a starting point to explore other parts of Queensland and Australia, which helps to grow tourism in this country.

“We will continue to work with our partner Air New Zealand to promote the route and to look for other opportunities to enhance our joint offering for customers.”

For Sunshine Coast locals the non-stop service is an easy hop across the Tasman to New Zealand with its fantastic winter tourist attractions in both the North and South Islands.

The route is also a popular one with Kiwi expats and Sunshine Coast locals visiting family and friends in New Zealand.

An A320 aircraft will operate the service, offering a ‘Seats to Suit’ fare structure and seamless connections to the domestic and international networks of Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia.

Flights are on sale now at airnewzealand.co.nz and airnewzealand.com.au.

Ends

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