Backpackers planning to buy seats on a newly-announced Pacific Blue service between New Zealand and Australia have the option of buying
gap year travel insurance.
NZPA reports that the airline will be running services between Hamilton, on New Zealand's North Island and Australia, six times a week from September.
The flights will be split between Brisbane and Sydney and the company has launched a two-week special offer online where passengers can get a one-way ticket to Brisbane for $199 (£78.71) or to Sydney for $169 (£66.84).
Brett Godfrey, chief executive of the Virgin Blue Group, the parent company of Pacific Blue, told the news agency: "As Hamilton currently has no international services in place, it was an obvious opportunity for us."
All passengers have the option of buying
backpacker travel insurance before leaving home and will be offered connection packages to other Australian cities such as Melbourne, Perth and Canberra.
In related airline news, the Air Transport Users Council recently reported that over 40 million bags were lost in airports all over the world through the course of 2007.
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