Regional destinations around the country have supported the Government's regional air connectivity announcement.
Regional airlines and the NZ Airports Association have jointly welcomed the Government’s regional air connectivity announcement as a turning point for New Zealand’s regional aviation network.
Regional airlines operate over 600 flights per week and are the only reliable and frequent transport to some parts of New Zealand. Regional air routes connect communities with jobs, healthcare, tourism, and emergency services. For decades, these services have been sustained without government support, an unusual achievement compared with other countries, where subsidies are standard for regional and remote communities.
“We are fortunate that New Zealand’s regional aviation network has sustained itself commercially for so long,” said NZ Airports Chief Executive Billie Moore. “But the long tail of COVID, rising operating and maintenance costs, and the less favourable finance terms available to smaller airlines have changed the equation.
“In many cases it is now more attractive for operators to sell their aircraft into the international market than to continue running services in New Zealand. Despite this, regional airlines want to keep flying and serving their communities.”
Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor has also welcomed the Government’s announcement today to provide NZD 30 million in concessionary loans to regional airlines.
“It’s great to see the Government stepping in. In our case, regional flights provide a lifeline for Marlborough people to access specialist health care services in Christchurch and Wellington. They are also very important for business people and provide an alternative to Air New Zealand, whose route offering is focussed on Auckland and Wellington only.”
Mayor Taylor said Marlborough District Council had been working closely with Sounds Air and advocating to the Government on the need for regional airline support.
“Hopefully we will now see some stabilisation for the regional airline sector in the short to medium term. However, unfortunately it looks inevitable that we will lose the excellent Sounds Air service to and from Christchurch. The alternative is a four-hour drive each way.”
“I’d like to thank ministers Shane Jones and James Meager for their efforts. Hopefully this is a turning point and a change in the mindset at the national level about supporting our critical regional airline infrastructure into the long term as well.”
Mayor Taylor said Sounds Air provided a critical link to and from Wellington from Blenheim (44 flights per week) and Picton (23 flights per week), alongside direct Air New Zealand flights to Wellington and Auckland. Sounds Air also flies to Paraparaumu from Blenheim four times a week.
“Investment in regional airlines such as Sounds Air saves people time and money and enables access to critical services like specialist health care.”
“Longer term certainty for regional airlines will also enable them to plan for the future as the economy grows, with more flights and routes.”
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