Pacific Blue to launch weekly flights to the Cook Islands

Christchurch based airline Pacific Blue is to launch weekly flights to the Cook Islands from 19 March 2005.

The low fare airline will operate a flight every Saturday with a service that begins in Sydney and flies via Christchurch to Rarotonga. Connecting services will also be available from Brisbane and Melbourne.

As a launch special Pacific Blue is offering a one-way fare of AUD$349* ex Sydney on the net for flights booked from now until 19 November 2004 for travel from 19 March until 25 June 2005.

Rarotonga will be the third tropical South Pacific destination the low fare airline flies to following the launch of services from Australia to Fiji and Vanuatu earlier this year. The new flights will also compliment Pacific Blue’s Gold Coast- Christchurch and Brisbane–Wellington services that took off for the first time last week.

Pacific Blue Chief Executive, Tony Marks, said, “We see this as a natural expansion for Pacific Blue and are confident it will introduce competition and affordable airfares to the Cook Islands. This is a great opportunity for visitors not just from Sydney and New Zealand’s South Island but also from Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide which will have very convenient connections.”

“While Pacific Blue’s Saturday schedule is ideal for visitors who want to take a seven day break, we would recommend they stay for two weeks as there are so many fantastic options to choose from in the Cook Islands. Not only is Rarotonga a stunning and affordable island holiday destination with great trekking, beaches, family friendly accommodation and a variety of water sports, tourists can also visit Atiu to get a better view of the traditional life of Cook Islanders or the stunning Aututaki Lagoon with its romantic unspoilt lagoon which is considered one of the gems of the South Pacific,” he added.

Tony Marks continued, “As we have seen with services from Christchurch across the Tasman, only real competition brings better fares to the market and while the Cook Islands tourism industry will benefit, so too will potential visitors who would not have otherwise been able to afford to travel due to monopolistic pricing and inconvenient schedules and connections.”

Pacific Blue will operate one of its modern 737- 800 jets on the route.

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