By Joanne Holden, Cook Islands News
A Jetstar spokesperson said the airline decided to temporarily stop operating the Sydney-Rarotonga route "due to low travel demand. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
The Cook Islands economy is bracing for a more than $2 million loss in revenue when direct flights from Australia are suspended for the final month of summer.
Jetstar Airway's thrice-weekly service between Sydney and Rarotonga will pause at the end of January and resume on 1 March, a period Cook Islands Tourism chief executive officer Karla Eggelton estimated to have an economic value "in the vicinity" of $2.21m in unrealised business.
"We know that February, historically, is a challenging month of the year for visitation."
Eggelton said indications were February this year would still outperform the same month last year, which took place before the direct Australia link began in June.
A Jetstar spokesperson said the airline decided to temporarily stop operating the Sydney-Rarotonga route "due to low travel demand to the South Pacific during summer".
The service had enjoyed "strong bookings" since its launch, the spokesperson said.
Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council president Liana Scott said the service would increase from three times a week to four shortly after its return, during the week starting 25 March.
"It will be the highest number of flights the country has ever seen out of Australia," Scott said.
"We've been told the pause is a once-off, it's not going to happen again next year."
Eggelton said the tourism sector was "fully supportive" of a fourth flight, which was estimated to have an economic value of $17.28m for the remainder of the year.
"Of course, it will be a matter of filling all of the four flights - making total value at least four times this estimate - so the destination marketing and promotional efforts will be crucial in realising this potential, and making these non-stop flights successful and sustainable."
Eggelton said Australia was the Cook Islands' second-largest source market, behind New Zealand.
"With limited airlift currently from New Zealand, Australia will need to perform to offset these constraints," she said.
"We don't have the airlift to make up for the overall shortfall out of New Zealand, but it will go some way to bridging the gap. We still need more flights and seats from April to October."
The United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe "remain integral in the year-round approach to business", Eggelton said.
"When we discuss the low season specifically, November to March, we also need to look to the Northern Hemisphere to bolster business for this period."
The five-hour Sydney-Rarotonga service will operate on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday upon its return.
-This story was first published by Cook Islands News.