Jet Raro (Christchurch) is a New Zealand-based virtual carrier planning to launch services from Christchurch to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands on September 22, 2020, subject to the governments reopening their respective borders until then.
The Otago Daily Times said the project is backed by real estate and mortgage businessman Mike Pero.
Jet Raro said on its website that it plans to operate its first route between 3x and 5x weekly using an A320-200 chartered from a third-party airline. Pero refused to name the prospective partner but said that "most Kiwis will be familiar with the name". He underlined that Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland International) rejected Jet Raro's offer for cooperation and that the new partner had been selected from a variety of sources spanning "Dublin to Los Angeles to the Pacific region".
Jet Raro's launch depends on New Zealand and the Cook Islands opening a "travel bubble" between the two COVID-free territories in time for the September 22 launch. Pero said that the Cook Islands government had been very supportive as it was "desperate to get some tourism". However, at this time there was no update from the New Zealandic government about the reopening of borders.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had earlier suggested that the Cook Islands could be one of the first destinations included in a "travel bubble" with New Zealand.
For the time being, as Cook Islands' borders remain closed, the country's sole active scheduled airline Air Rarotonga (GZ, Rarotonga) operates a single domestic route between Rarotonga and Aitutaki Island. It hopes to restart international operations on September 1.
While the Cook Islands is a self-governing country, it is in free association with New Zealand, which is largely responsible for its defence and foreign affairs. All citizens of the Cook Islands also hold New Zealandic citizenship.
