Wellington - Australian budget carrier Jetstar Airways announced Monday that it was expanding services on the highly competitive routes across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand.

Jetstar, a low-cost subsidiary of Qantas Airways, said it would start daily flights on April 28 from Auckland to Sydney and the Queensland Gold Coast.

Chief executive Bruce Buchanan said the flights would complement Qantas' four daily Auckland-Sydney services, and he did not see the parent carrier scaling back its New Zealand routes.

Jetstar already flies between Christchurch in New Zealand's South Island and four Australian cities.

Trans-Tasman services are also flown by Air New Zealand, the Virgin subsidiary Pacific Blue and Dubai-based Emirates. (dpa)