Photo: SuppliedUncertainty over quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and the Cook Islands has forced Christchurch businessman Mike Pero to halt his plans to start Pasifika Air. “While the dark cloud hanging over global travel remains, we expected a brighter outlook for the Pacific region," he said. Pero initially expected to start flying between the Cook Islands, Christchurch and Wellington in about June and start taking bookings in March, but this depends on two-way quarantine free travel between the countries. The airline's website now says Pasifika Air flights hope to commence in August and bookings can be made in June. Pasifika Air would use the leased Boeing 737-800s to fly between Wellington and Rarotonga and Christchurch and Rarotonga, so Pasifika would avoid a head-to-head fight with Air New Zealand which flies out of Auckland to the Cook Islands.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 14, 2021 21:11 UTC