Flights
from Kapiti Coast to Napier and Gisborne will start next month, with Sunair
Aviation operating two return flights a day to the East Coast. The new service
starts on the back of the successful Paraparaumu to Auckland Air Nelson
flights, which have been running for more than six months. Sunair co-owner
Beverley Power said the flights will start on June 4, and will run twice a day
on weekdays. They will fly direct to Napier, and then to Gisborne. "Well
we already had the freight route going through Paraparaumu, and have decided to
add the passenger element to it," she said. "We're really looking
forward to it all getting under way." Sunair has operated in New Zealand
for 25 years, and mainly transports corporate clients to smaller destinations
such as Great Barrier Island, Whitianga, Tauranga and Rotorua. The airline has
nine twin-engine aircraft, and three single-engine planes, and flights from
Kapiti will be six-seater services. The current Air Nelson flights from
Paraparaumu to Auckland have been receiving great support from locals,
according to Air New Zealand, but Aucklanders have been less supportive. "During
the first six months of operation we have seen steady support for Air New
Zealand's new Paraparaumu to Auckland service, particularly from the Kapiti
region," Air New Zealand spokeswoman Marie Hosking said. "We are
working closely with the Kapiti community and business leaders to encourage
them to work together on ways to attract more visitors and business people from
Auckland to the region." There were no current plans to expand the service
out of Kapiti. "The focus at this stage is on continuing to build the
existing service". Kapiti Coast Airport chief executive Steve Bootten said
he is pleased with the effort of locals in supporting the service. "Right
from day one they've been well patronised. We have had a six month sort of
progress meeting with [Air Nelson]. They are very pleased, right through from
the ground handling, to the car parking, to the terminal facilities, ie the
cafe." He said there had been many people asking about more destinations,
and Air New Zealand had been asked too. "I think that there will be a service
added. Of course that is up to Air Nelson, it's not for us to say, but my guess
is there will be a service to Christchurch, and possibly towards the end of
this year." Mr Bootten said the new flights by Sunair showed the airport
is growing and attracting new markets. "It's a perfect example of the Air
Nelson flights being the impetus for other people to suddenly look at the
Kapiti Coast in general, and just realise the huge potential."
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