Official JQ statement-CHC Quakes

[Guest Darren Masters]

A significant earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale has occurred in Christchurch late this morning.

 

Christchurch International Airport is presently closed.

 

Jetstar wishes to advise that a result of this event, our domestic and trans-Tasman international services to and from Christchurch have been suspended for the remainder of today (Tuesday 22 February) until further notice.

 

Jetstar New Zealand services this afternoon to/from Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown are also presently affected and will not operate until further notice due to air traffic control.

 

The safety of our passengers and our people is Jetstar's number one priority at this time.

 

Jetstar is working closely with New Zealand airport authorities regarding the status of safe flying operations for Christchurch and our remaining New Zealand airports.

 

Jetstar will soon issue a customer advisory offering flexible fare arrangements for travel.

 

Jetstar.com will be regularly updated with the latest information, including the recommencement of services.

 

Beyond updates at Jetstar.com, our customers with near travel requirements to, from or within New Zealand on our low fare services can call the Jetstar Contact Centre directly:

 

+ 0800 800 995 within New Zealand

 

131 538 within Australia

 

An updated media advisory will be issued later today regarding the status of Jetstar’s NZ operations.

 

AND

 

A significant earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale has struck the city of Christchurch late this morning local time which we understand has caused major damage, has caused the closure of CHC Airport and is already impacting on our domestic and trans-Tasman operations.

 

Our thoughts are with the people of Christchurch at this time.

 

It is still too early to provide broader information however at the present (12:30 AEDT) Jetstar, like other airlines, has suspended all of its domestic NZ services as a result of the closure of Christchurch Airport and the impact on other NZ ports.

 

A number of aircraft that were operating to CHC will be diverted to an alternate NZ port as well as one A320 aircraft to Hobart.

 

As you are aware Jetstar has a large local base at Christchurch and a significant level of operations to and from CHC in addition to our domestic NZ and trans-Tasman flying.

 

Jetstar’s primary focus right now is on ensuring its team members in the region are OK and our crisis management plans have been activated.

 

Communications into the region have been impacted by the loss of power and telecommunications services.

 

As a result of this event there will be significant disruption to our operations at least in the short term and there are no further details available as to when Christchurch Airport will reopen.

 

Further information will be provided as soon as more details come to hand.