Mainland Air regret to announce...

 

Mainland Air's general manager is disappointed its bid to have flights resumed from the Oamaru Airport has failed to get council support. Mainland Air put an application before the Waitaki District Council to have council subsidise flights, to make the service viable. A Waitaki District Council spokesman said the council had subsidised flights in the past with Eagle Air. "They were looking for rate-payer contribution ... there isn't a strong business case to do that again," he said. Mainland Air general manager Shirley Kean said the council's decision was disappointing. "They couldn't help and without that we can't go forward," Mrs Kean said. "It wasn't a lot, but they are not in a position to do it. Without that support it's not good for us." She said the support from the general public in Oamaru was huge. "I don't know that it's a good decision [by the Waitaki District Council]," she said. "There's some pretty big things going on and our service would've helped them and companies that were looking at moving into Oamaru. They were supportive. "There was so much support and people are still ringing, asking when we're starting, but that's business, isn't it?" She said Mainland Air would continue to keep its ears open and had not completely ruled out services from the Oamaru Airport.

For a profile on Mainland Air see : http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2010/10/mainland-air-last-airline-to-operate-to.html

 

Source : http://www.oamarumail.co.nz/news/council-says-no-to-subsidy-for-flights/1744821/