Ansett New Zealand - timetable and fares 1988

 

Ansett NZ quick reference timetable March 1988

Ansett NZ quick reference timetable March 1988

Ansett NZ standard and saver plus fare guide January 1988

Ansett NZ standard and saver plus fare guide January 1988

Ansett NZ saver plus timetable guide April 1988

Ansett NZ saver plus timetable guide April 1988

Ansett NZ Good Buy special fare guide

From July 1987 Ansett New Zealand transformed the domestic airline market in New Zealand, by introducing for the first time competition on the main Auckland-Wellington-Christchurch trunk route.  Multiple airlines had competed with Air New Zealand (and Mount Cook Airlines) on regional routes up till that date, but it was the liberalisation of foreign ownership laws for domestic airlines that allowed 50% foreign ownership that enabled Ansett New Zealand to succeed Newmans Air, and give Air New Zealand a direct competitor for the first time on its most profitable domestic route.

Ansett New Zealand started by flying Boeing 737-100s, the smallest model (and the oldest) at the time, but grew quickly, especially after the 50% foreign ownership limit was lifted to 100%, with New Zealand being the first jurisdiction to fully open its domestic airline market to fully foreign owned airlines.

This post shows parts of a business package distributed to interested businesses with information about its services.  It includes both timetable and fares.  There were nine flights each way on weekdays between Auckland and Wellington, nine between Auckland and Christchurch and six between Wellington and Christchurch.  The timetable also includes the Ansett-Newmans flights taken over by Ansett New Zealand on the Auckland-Rotorua-Christchurch-Glentanner-Queenstown-Te Anau route.  

It also includes a fare guide with standard fares, 30% off fares (which applied to off-peak services) and "Good Buy" fares which were cheaper still.

Notably Ansett New Zealand had "first class" for some years as a premium product, and charged accordingly.  Fares ranged between Auckland and Wellington from $92 one way for "Good Buy" fares ($222 in 2023 prices) to $244.20 one way in first class ($590 in 2023 prices). 

Given a cursory look at Jetstar fares for the same route today over the next month ($51 to $165 one way), it indicates how much lower domestic airfares are today.