Dunedin International Airport staff have held further talks with Virgin Blue representatives about the possibility of the airline's offshoot, Pacific Blue, operating out of Dunedin.
Airport chief executive John McCall confirmed when contacted last night he had held discussions with Australian-based representatives from Virgin Blue just before Christmas. He was reluctant to elaborate on the details of the discussion.
"We have had further communication with them but it's really not for me to expand on that at this stage . . . It was about general issues relating to operating through Dunedin airport.
"I haven't been updated any more since pre-Christmas, but I am expecting further correspondence with them," Mr McCall said.
Dunedin Airport has been in discussions with Virgin Blue on and off since 2001.
Virgin Blue staff in Australia could not be reached for comment last night.
The airline announced plans for a transtasman service between Christchurch and Brisbane last year, but has indicated it would look to expand to other New Zealand centres and provide domestic as well as transtasman flights.
As Pacific Blue's first 737-800 arrived in Christchurch yesterday, the airline's chief executive, Tony Marks, said it could be operating a domestic service within New Zealand by the middle of this year, NZPA reported.
A second aircraft was due to arrive later next month, in time for the start of the airline's services between Christchurch and Sydney and between Wellington and Sydney from March 10.
A decision still had to be made on how a third aircraft, due by the middle of the year, would be used, Mr Marks said.
A domestic service was likely to be based on the Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch route, but centres such as Hamilton, Dunedin and Rotorua might be considered, he said.
Dunedin airport is spending $20 million upgrading its terminal facilities in the next two years and is also considering lengthening its 1900m runway by another 500m. Nearly three years ago, British tycoon Sir Richard Branson named a direct Dunedin to Auckland jet service as an example of a route in which Virgin Blue might be interested.
Next flights.see http://www.anthonytubbs.com for details
Airport chief executive John McCall confirmed when contacted last night he had held discussions with Australian-based representatives from Virgin Blue just before Christmas. He was reluctant to elaborate on the details of the discussion.
"We have had further communication with them but it's really not for me to expand on that at this stage . . . It was about general issues relating to operating through Dunedin airport.
"I haven't been updated any more since pre-Christmas, but I am expecting further correspondence with them," Mr McCall said.
Dunedin Airport has been in discussions with Virgin Blue on and off since 2001.
Virgin Blue staff in Australia could not be reached for comment last night.
The airline announced plans for a transtasman service between Christchurch and Brisbane last year, but has indicated it would look to expand to other New Zealand centres and provide domestic as well as transtasman flights.
As Pacific Blue's first 737-800 arrived in Christchurch yesterday, the airline's chief executive, Tony Marks, said it could be operating a domestic service within New Zealand by the middle of this year, NZPA reported.
A second aircraft was due to arrive later next month, in time for the start of the airline's services between Christchurch and Sydney and between Wellington and Sydney from March 10.
A decision still had to be made on how a third aircraft, due by the middle of the year, would be used, Mr Marks said.
A domestic service was likely to be based on the Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch route, but centres such as Hamilton, Dunedin and Rotorua might be considered, he said.
Dunedin airport is spending $20 million upgrading its terminal facilities in the next two years and is also considering lengthening its 1900m runway by another 500m. Nearly three years ago, British tycoon Sir Richard Branson named a direct Dunedin to Auckland jet service as an example of a route in which Virgin Blue might be interested.
Next flights.see http://www.anthonytubbs.com for details
