ANALYSIS: Australian budget airline Jetstar sent shockwaves across New Zealand in October as it withdrew from five key regional routes used by thousands of Kiwis each week.

Flights between Auckland and Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth and Palmerston North were jettisoned by Jetstar, as well as its Wellington to Nelson route, leaving travellers with little choice of where to buy their airline tickets in 2020.

How many times have you heard them say "No wide-body jets into Wanaka" ?! Needless to say, @QueenstownLakes @NZQN will say that this was a "mistake". Thank you @CruxNZ for uncovering this. Sadly, there will be more where that came from https://t.co/zncXlRTTjY #NoAirportExpansion

— Protect Wanaka (@ProtectWanaka) February 7, 2020

Jetstar had been credited with keeping Air New Zealand honest in the under-served regional market, but struggled to turn a profit from the routes.

The national flag carrier now has near-total dominance of New Zealand’s regional skies. With no national passenger rail services to rely on, travellers are at the mercy of a market with hardly any competition. 

Read this in full here.

Image: One of the Q300 aircraft Jetstar operated on regional routes in New Zealand. STUFF

Video: Tomorrow's Wanaka