The Cook Islands could be in for a tourism boost with Jetstar announcing it'll offer year-round, low-cost services between Auckland and Rarotonga next year.
Jetstar's Grant Kerr says the company will be the first new airline in more than 10 years to jump on the route, which also includes three return services a week. Flights from Auckland will start at $129.
"Whenever Jetstar enters a market our low fares help to grow that market," he says.
"We expect our new flights to Rarotonga will significantly lift passenger numbers from both New Zealand and Australia, delivering substantial benefits to Cook Islands tourism."
Cook Islands Tourism general manager Graeme West says the announcement is a "very positive" development for the island nation.
"Tourism contributes 60 percent of GDP in the Cook Islands so the new services will provide a major boost to the country's economy," says Mr West.
"Rarotonga welcomes more than 82,000 visitors from New Zealand each year and the additional Jetstar capacity from March 2016 will allow the market to grow even more."
Jetstar says the Auckland-to -Rarotonga route will add around 25,000 new return seats a year.
The services will commence from March 22.
3 News
