MPs say Air NZ plans to drop one Auckland-Dunedin flight
Air New Zealand wants to cut one of its daily direct flights between Dunedin and Auckland, two Labour MPs say.
Air New Zealand wants to cut one of its daily direct flights between Dunedin and Auckland, two Labour MPs say.
David Clark and Clare Curran say this will hurt the local business community and is a clear market signal Dunedin is not seen as a growth centre.
“I understand Air New Zealand’s decision to cut the last daily flight from Auckland to Dunedin is a recognition from within the company that Dunedin is the ‘last cab off the rank’ when considering the impact of changing their fleet of 737s to A320s,” they say in a joint statement.
“We will be talking to the Dunedin business community and seeking an urgent meeting with Air New Zealand to discuss the impact of these changes and whether they signal future cuts to air services.
“Dunedin cannot and should not risk becoming a backwater for air services. There isn't a clearer sign that we are at risk of just that happening by this latest move.”
Air New Zealand's timetable shows it has up to three daily weekday non-stop return flights between Auckland and Dunedin of just under two hours and two at weekends. This compares with more than three hours for flights transitting through Christchurch or Wellington.
NBR Staff
Tue, 04 Feb 2014
Tue, 04 Feb 2014
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