Tauranga's Mayor and MP remain confident the city is waiting in the wings for a new airline carrier despite being left off Jetstar's initial shortlist for regional destinations.

Jetstar announced yesterday plans to start flying to regional centres in New Zealand from later this year, bringing much-needed competition and more affordable fares to travellers outside the country's main centres.

Jetstar has left Tauranga off its list of newly announced regional destinations. Photo: File.

Hamilton, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Napier, Palmerston North, Nelson and Invercargill among the destinations under consideration by the Qantas owned airline carrier.

Tauranga MP and Transportation Minister Simon Bridges says it's disappointing Tauranga has been left off the list, but at the same time is 'tremendous” news for regional New Zealand.

Even though Jetstar isn't landing in the city, Simon says the economic flow on effect from the likes of Hamilton and Rotorua could still be visible.

'I'm hopeful over time that if their other regional services go well they will look at coming here. I think there is a reasonably good possibility of that and Alan Joyce the CEO has said as much.

'We are a bigger better city than many of the other places that Jetstar has been looking at, but I think the other provincial cities probably have a bit more commercial and tourist travel.

'But over time that is changing here and so we should have our chins up and all do your best lobbying Jetstar to bring competition to Tauranga.”

Tauranga MP and Transportation Minister Simon Bridges is hopeful the city will be considered by Jetstar in the future.

Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby fully supports Jetstar entering the regional airspace and even if it didn't come to Tauranga in the first instance the city would be the beneficiary of a solid competitive player in the regional market.

'I'm not that concerned at the moment that we are not on their first list of priorities. What I'm pleased about is they are in New Zealand and plan to operate regionally,” says Stuart.

'There is no point attracting an airline anywhere into New Zealand if they are not going to be sustainable and I can assure you Air New Zealand will react to this and they will react hard and fast.”

Stuart says the city's airport is more than capable of hosting another airline after the failed Origin Pacific Airways venture between Tauranga and Christchurch in 2006.

But he admits Jetstar will be looking at areas that may have spare capacity and opportunity to grow quickly, alongside linking with its international markets.

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key says the airline's commitment will provide a welcome boost to regional economies.

It's expected to create at least 100 new jobs for pilots, cabin crew, and ground crew.

'Extra air links will help connect regional New Zealand with the world and the main centres, making it easier to do business and for Kiwis and tourists to get around the country.”

Qantas Group chief executive Alan Joyce says the services will bring huge economic benefits to the region and could also expect big drops in usual regional prices.

'When Jetstar brought low fares to New Zealand's key routes six years ago it completely transformed the market in terms of value and now we'll do the same for regional New Zealand,” says Alan.

'The community has been calling out for more choices and lower fares on regional routes in New Zealand because there's a lack of competition.

The first operations would start in December, with four destinations expected to be up and running by the end of the New Year.

The new services will be operated by a fleet of five 50-seat Bombardier Q300 turbo-prop aircraft.

Jetstar executives will visit the regional centres in the next two months to meet with airports, local government, and business, travel and tourism representatives to determine the first regional destinations.

Jetstar currently operates nine Airbus A320 180-seat aircraft on five routes - between Auckland and Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown; and between Wellington and Christchurch.

The airline also flies 12 international short-haul routes, mostly across the Tasman.

Jetstar currently operates nine Airbus A320 180-seat aircraft between Auckland and Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, as well as between Wellington and Christchurch.

The airline also flies 12 international short-haul routes, mostly across the Tasman

SunLive has been unable to reach Jetstar for comment on the Tauranga decision.