Councils secure regular flight services for regional communities

Councils have worked with air transport providers to secure regular flights for their communities, after Air New Zealand cut services to some airports.

The airline announced in November that its flights to Kaitaia, Whakatane and Westport would cease because customer demand could not sustain its 50 seat aircraft. However, the local government sector has successfully and proactively worked together to find alternative solutions for each of these communities.

Far North District Council arranged with Great Barrier Airlines for daily flights between Kaitaia and Auckland. Whakatane District Council worked with Air Chathams to arrange a locally branded service between Whakatane and Auckland. Buller District Council negotiated with Sounds Air to secure new flights between Westport and Wellington.

LGNZ President Lawrence Yule says this is a strong example of the sector collaborating, which highlights the good work that councils do for communities.

“Ease of travel between regional New Zealand and our cities helps to enable regional business people to successfully conduct business,” Mr Yule says.

“Mayors of districts where air transport services are under threat have been communicating with each other about these challenges and have held joint discussion with Air New Zealand and the Prime Minister. The flights that councils have secured for these regions will be very beneficial to their communities.”

Far North District Council has the advantage of owning the company that operates Kaitaia and Bay of Islands Airports, so it was able to negotiate directly with airlines to ensure any services offered met the needs of the Kaitaia community.

“People these days need to be able to travel nationally and internationally for a range of social and economic reasons. Having daily flights between Kaitaia and Auckland means locals can be anywhere in New Zealand in a matter of hours,” Far North Mayor John Carter says.

“These flights also make Kaitaia more accessible to government workers, private investors and tourists; all of whom are important players in our economy. Not having adequate air services would make Kaitaia and the Far North less accessible and therefore less competitive with other centres.”

Air Chathams is providing a locally-branded service to Whakatane, utilising its fleet of 50-seat Convair 580 airliners and 19-seat Metroliner aircraft.

“I’m delighted to announce that a replacement service has been offered, which could provide significant potential for growth and a genuine opportunity for the Eastern Bay of Plenty to build a partnership with an airline which is committed to attractively-priced fares and developing travel, accommodation and activity packages which will boost the region’s profile as a short-stay domestic tourism destination,” Whakatane Mayor Tony Bonne says.

Whakatane District Council will continue to work with the Government to ensure that the airport, which is a 50:50 joint-venture with the Ministry of Transport, remains a viable long-term operation.

“The airport plays a key role in the region’s transport infrastructure, opening up access to the rest of the country for our 47,000 residents. It also makes an important contribution to our business sector and our economy and we look forward to seeing that grow over the coming years,” Mayor Bonne says.

Buller District Council through its Airport Chief Executive, Sonia Cresswell, contacted eleven service providers to seek alternatives when Air New Zealand exited. From six expressions of interest, three companies tabled proposals. The council established a priority list of objectives including timing of schedule to meet community needs, pressurised plane (due to the weather and terrain in the region) and a proven operator that could offer a prolonged guarantee of service. The proposal from Sounds Air, using a nine seater Pilatus PC12 plane, was accepted.

“The key to enable the company to have confidence to proceed and purchase the two planes required, to ensure continuity of service, was to have a mutually beneficial agreement,” Buller Mayor Garry Howard says.

The agreement that was negotiated includes a minimum passenger number guarantee which has liability limitation for the Council. The guarantee has early warning mechanisms and Council is comfortable with the agreement as it has secured a six year service (with rights of renewal) based out of Westport at far better times than currently available.

“It is essential in supporting local business and attracting new business that a regular air service is available to the West Coast. We have a considerable number of professional service people come for one or two days. These people range from medical, engineering, audit and a host of specialists that cannot be maintained on the Coast,” Mayor Howard says.

“I have little doubt within a few years we will see a number of regional areas of New Zealand serviced by the Pilatus PC12 plane.”

The flights councils have secured also make it easier for locals who have moved out of the area for work to return home to visit family and friends. They help to keep these airports open for other essential air services such as the travel of medical staff.

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