Jetstar’s inaugural flight to Rarotonga took off from Sydney Airport on Thursday evening, June 29, 2023, marking the first time an Australian Airlines has offered direct service to the Cook Islands in over 30 years.
On Thursday (June 29, 2023), Jetstar announced the launch of their inaugural flight between Sydney Airport and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. This marks the first time an Australian airline has offered direct service to the Cook Islands in more than 30 years, when the route was serviced by Ansett. Jetstar’s Rarotonga launch was celebrated with dancers and singers at check-in and more than 200 passengers and crew traveled on the inaugural service, which has a flight time of five hours and 30 minutes. The route will operate three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with an Airbus A321neoLR. To celebrate the launch of serviced to Rarotonga, Jetstar is offering one-way fares from $249. To qualify for the low introductory fares, tickets must be booked by 23:59 AEST on July 3, 2023 unless sold out previously (T&Cs apply).
In Thursday’s announcement, Jetstar’s Chief Customer Officer, Alan McIntyre, said,
“We are excited to be providing the only direct option between Australia and the Cook Islands, making it a very convenient way to enjoy a tropical holiday. Now just a five-hour flight from Sydney, our new service will make the Cook Islands the next hot holiday spot for Australians seeking a tropical island escape to relax and unwind, especially during cooler months. Our everyday low fares mean Australians can enjoy Rarotonga’s beautiful warm weather, white sand beaches and sparkling blue waters for less. We thank the Cook Islands Government for its support of the new route.”
Also commenting on the new service, Cook Islands’ Prime Minister, Mark Brown, said,
“The island is renowned for some of the world’s most incredible crystal-clear waters, and Aitutaki lagoon is recognised as one of the most beautiful in the world. The culture, cuisine, activities, and lifestyle of Cook Islanders is a drawcard for Australians as well as the wide range of accommodation, including full-service resorts, boutique hotels and holiday homes. For visitors wanting to explore further and experience wilderness off grid, there are multiple other islands in the Cook Islands to discover. We are grateful to Jetstar for the services they are providing, giving visitors and Cook Islander’s living in Australia easy access to the Cook Islands.”
Jetstar currently operates three weekly return flights between Auckland and Rarotonga, but now customers from Australia can enjoy the convenience of direct service, saving at least three hours of travel time. The new route is made possible by the Airbus A321neoLR which has a longer range compared to the carrier’s existing A320 and A321s, thanks to an extra fuel tank. Jetstar currently has eight Airbus A320neo Family jets, with the ninth expected to arrive in July 2023, and a total of 18 to be delivered by the end of 2024.
Launched in Australia in 2004, Jetstar Airways is wholly owned by the Qantas Group, and has to date carried over 350 million passengers. The Jetstar Group also includes Jetstar Asia in Singapore and Jetstar Japan. A low-cost carrier, Jetstar is committed to offering everyday low fares to enable more people to fly to more places
Source: Jetstar Airways