Justin Watson: Christchurch Airport chief executive on the new non-stop international flights announced from Christchurch

New Christchurch flights are being hailed as a key step for global connectivity.

From October, Air New Zealand will fly direct between Christchurch and Singapore, Tokyo and Perth. 

Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson says Christchurch is in a really good place, and more people will want to experience the city.

"People want to come and visit, they want to go to events, they want to see the place, they want to access the South Island - and so I'd say that's the primary draw card." 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
More good news for christ Church. Air New Zealand has
announced three new non stop international routes and they will
all fly out of christ Cheercha Airport. They're going to
launch in late October to Perth, Singapore and Tokyo. Justin
Watson is the christ Chieach Airport Chief Executive and with
us HI Justin Cure heathern did Air New Zealand come
to you or you go to them all?

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Look, we work in partnership with all of our eline partners,
but in this case US in the New Zealand have
been discussed for some time on this.

Speaker 1 (00:29):
Do you think it's been sparked their interest in christ
Church as opposed to to Auckland? Obviously, I mean, you
guys are the hot new place. But is it also
sparked by the fact that Auckland the airport is charging
them so much?

Speaker 2 (00:39):
Look, I think it's predominantly because of what's happening in
christ Church. In the pull of destination christ Church, I mean,
we really are in a sweet spot at the moment.
People want to come and visit, they want to go
to events, they want to see the place, they want
to access the South Island, and so I'd say that's
the primary draw card.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
How much demand you reckon there is for these three
these three.

Speaker 2 (01:00):
Routes look I think a lot. We've modeled the demand.
We believe three services a week to each of those
destinations is a good starting point and a starting point
that we can then grow from.

Speaker 1 (01:13):
Justin, from how far Afield in New Zealand you reckon
people will fly into christ Church to then fly out
to these places.

Speaker 2 (01:22):
It's a really interesting question because there's sort of a
mindset issue because if you're sitting in Wellington, it's actually
quicker to fly from Wellington to christ Church to Singapore
than it is to go over Auckland. But there's a
mindset issue where people don't like to feel like they're
going backwards. So certainly from within the South Island is

(01:45):
our primary catchment, but really anything Taupo South does make sense.

Speaker 1 (01:51):
Well okay, Justin, thanks very much, good LUCKI that Justin Watson,
christ Church Airport Chief Executive.

Speaker 2 (01:56):
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