Regional Cuts

 

Those in the deep south will soon have fewer options to get to the North Island as Air New Zealand pulls the pin on its Invercargill to Wellington service. The flights will stop from January 19, 2025, the airline has announced. Air New Zealand general manager domestic Scott Carr said the decision has come down to global engine maintenance issues putting aircraft out of service, coupled with a softening of demand domestically. “As a result, we have had to make the tough decision to no longer operate the direct Invercargill to Wellington service from 19 January 2025. Customers will still be able to fly to Wellington via Christchurch. We will be adding additional flights between Christchurch and Invercargill to ensure there is sufficient capacity. Those who are already booked to travel will be re-accommodated, the airline said. “We know this change may cause inconvenience for some, but we want to assure our customers that we remain committed to connecting Invercargill to our wider network via the direct Christchurch and Auckland services.” Carr said a significant amount of care and planning goes into ensuring its domestic network services communities as well as possible, while also ensuring its operations are financially sustainable. Air New Zealand currently flies two flights a day between Invercargill and the capital Monday to Friday. It flies from Invercargill on a Saturday morning and with a return flight from Wellington on Sunday evening. Last month the airline celebrated five years of direct flights between Invercargill and Auckland. Southland Business Chamber CEO Sheree Carey said the news was “disappointing”, particularly for businesses and people who rely on the “vital” link to the capital. “Direct flights play a crucial role in fostering connections for business travel, tourism, and personal journeys, and losing this service could impact our local economy and accessibility,” Carey told Stuff Travel in a statement.“Despite the challenges presented by the discontinuation of this service, we remain optimistic about the future of air travel in Southland. “It’s essential that we work together to enhance our regional connectivity and explore new opportunities for air services that can support our local economy,” Carey said. The Southland Business Chamber encouraged all stakeholders, including businesses and community members, to engage in discussions with Air New Zealand and other regional partners to find solutions that will ensure continued growth and accessibility for the region.

Source : https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/350434687/air-new-zealand-scraps-wellington-invercargill-route