Direct flights between Chch and Perth to start in Dec

Direct flights between Christchurch and Perth will begin in December.

The Air New Zealand flights will operate twice a week from December 3 to April 26, and if they prove popular, they will become permanent.

Christchurch Airport CEO Jim Boult says that’s more than 19-thousand seats over 21 weeks and an outstanding boost for Christchurch and the South Island.

"This new service is the result of collaborative planning by two airlines and two airports - Air New Zealand, Virgin Australia, Christchurch and Perth airports," he says. "All four of us have long recognised the wisdom of offering these flights and have now found timing to suit everyone.

"We know South Islanders want to visit Perth for the warmth and stunning beaches, while Western Australians want to drive around our scenery they see in travel brochures. They also never get snow, so we know they’re keen to come here to ski."

Perth Airport CEO Brad Geatches says "We have been working collaboratively for more than a year to establish this new service and we are delighted that Western Australians and South Islanders will have this exciting travel opportunity. We are confident this will be a successful route and are delighted with Air New Zealand’s commitment to Perth. We look forward to welcoming the new service in December."

Tourism Holdings Limited CEO Grant Webster says "This is great news for the South Island and New Zealand tourism. As an operator in both Perth and Christchurch, we can see the opportunity in Western Australia both in-bound and out-bound. Perth is basically our largest Australian branch now and shows on-going growth."

John Thorburn, Chief Executive of Ngâi Tahu Tourism agrees. "Direct flights into Christchurch from Perth is great news. We believe Western Australian visitors will stay longer and do more activities, making this market an attractive opportunity for both Ngâi Tahu Tourism and the wider industry."

Mr Boult says one of the attractions of the direct flights is time saved.

"Travellers can save more than three hours flying direct when compared to stopping over somewhere else, so that’s very attractive to both business and leisure travellers," he says. "The new direct flight between Christchurch and Perth will offer both economy and business class seats on a B767-300 and will offer the ‘seats to suit’ product. In other words, there’s something for every traveller going in either direction."

Mr Boult says more than 25,000 people travel between Christchurch and Perth every year and others have said they would make the trip if there were a direct flight. He says the new direct service offers another benefit for trans-Tasman travellers.

"At the same time Air New Zealand is commencing the direct 767 services to Perth, we will also benefit from capacity improvement on the AirNZ service to and from Sydney - with some of these also operated by B767 aircraft. It’s a win-win."

The flights are likely to boost the airfreight between the two areas. According to Statistics New Zealand, last year, the total trading value of airfreight between Christchurch and Perth was NZD$475 million, or in volume terms, 300 tonnes.