Jetstar\u2019s slashing of flights will hit Kiwis much harder than people trying to get around Australia, with the budget airline cutting four-times as many flights \u2013 in relative terms \u2013 across the Tasman ditch.<\/p>\n
Following an announcement to the ASX last week, Jetstar and parent company Qantas have been forced to rein in flight numbers for the next few months in the face sky-high jet fuel prices.<\/p>\n
Analysis from industry publication AeroRoutes has now revealed Jetstar is cutting 2.7 per cent of domestic Australian flights from May 18 to June 30, to 10,237.<\/p>\n
But domestic New Zealand trips are being slashed 12 per cent in the same time frame, down to 1564.<\/p>\n
AeroRoutes also reports Qantas is culling 3.6 per cent of flights in the same May 18-June 30 window.<\/p>\n
Both airlines have been approached for comment.<\/p>\n
Jetstar\u2019s trans-Tasman routes fly in and out of the Gold Coast, from which the Auckland and Christchurch routes will see the largest reductions.<\/p>\n
Domestically, the Gold Coast to Darwin Jetstar route was supposed to resume on June 17, but that has been pushed to October.<\/p>\n
The flight from Sydney to Busselton in WA\u2019s southwest has also been cancelled from June 1 to September 21.<\/p>\n
Across Australia, most of Jetstar\u2019s cancellations are of less than five trips on any given route in the seven week window to June 30.<\/p>\n
Within New Zealand, 55 flights from Auckland to Christchurch are being axed (down to 310) and 53 Auckland to Wellington trips are canned, down to 142.<\/p>\n
Qantas\u2019 major cutbacks see 43 Brisbane-Melbourne flights cancelled and 31 of the reverse journey canned. Twenty-three Melbourne to Adelaide trips are axed, as are 27 Perth to Sydney trips, 50 Sydney to Brisbane legs and 76 Sydney to Melbourne trips.<\/p>\n
The price of jet fuel, particularly to Asia and Oceania buyers, has skyrocketed since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed seven weeks ago.<\/p>\n
Qantas announced to the ASX last week it expected its fuel bill to be $600m-$800m more for the second half of this financial year.<\/p>\n
The huge cost increase comes despite a key measure of profitability for the airline \u2013 revenue per kilometre travelled \u2013 continues to rise with more expensive airfares.<\/p>\n