UPDATED 11.03AM: Jetstar is to start flying to Nelson, Napier, New Plymouth, and Palmerston North.

The airline has made the announcement at Wellington Airport today.

Centres that missed out include Hamilton, Rotorua and Invercargill.

ABOVE: Jestar's Australia and NZ CEO David Hall and aviation analyst Geoff Thomas speak with Larry Williams

Jetstar will start flying Nelson to Auckland and Napier to Auckland from the beginning of December.

It'll fly New Plymouth to Auckland, Palmerston North to Auckland and Nelson to Wellington from February.

CEO David Hall has pointed out that this is just the beginning, so it's not the end of the road for those areas which have missed out.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges believes the new routes make for a signifcant day for aviation in New Zealand.

"Competition is something the government believes strongly in. Here this fundamentally what we're getting, competition and choice," he said.

Bridges insists that competition will be good for existing airlines going to those regions as well.

Nelson-Tasman tourism CEO Lynda Keene said the flights could be a game changer for the region's tourism.

"It's going to make the perspective travellers look at air prices and then decide where they're going to travel in New Zealand so definitely this is going to be really, really helpful."

New Plymouth Mayor Andrew Judd believes Taranaki was already a rapidly growing destination for travellers.

"Through-traffic through the airport has grown year on year, we're looking to redevelop our terminal to accommodate extra growth even before Jetstar."

Rotorua is determined to get back on Jetstar's radar, however. Rotorua Chamber of Commerce CEO Darrin Walsh says they need to encourage more travellers to come by air, rather than road.

"We've got potential. I think it's about getting our ducks lined up and converting that potential so that airlines do see us as a destination they do want to fly to."

Meanwhile, the Labour Party is looking for government department buy-in to Jetstar's broader role in regional air routes.

Labour MP Phil Twyford wants government agencies to help boost the competition with Air New Zealand by pledging to buy the best fares for staff when they travel.

He believes that'll save money for taxpayers while boosting services to regional areas.