Air New Zealand says it is still committed to flying from Kapiti despite reducing flights to Auckland. Three morning flights to Auckland, added this year in an attempt to stimulate demand on the route, will be cut from August. Airline spokeswoman Melody Brass said demand for the services failed to match the additional capacity "and we can no longer sustain these additional flights". She said Air New Zealand was "committed to the Kapiti Coast and will continue to serve the Auckland-Kapiti Coast market". Former airport frequent flyer Tony Froude, of Waikanae, said he used to travel regularly from Kapiti Coast Airport to Christchurch before that service was axed in February, leaving only the Auckland route. Froude said confirmation of rumours that Air New Zealand would cut back on its Auckland flights, dropping 10am flights from Thursday and Fridays, and a morning flight from Sunday, was bad news for the community. "My fear is that it will disappear, because if you cut your services back enough, that's how you kill it. With enough reductions people would start going to Wellington or Palmerston." Froude said increased domestic flights running from Wellington Airport showed the carrier had lost interest in flying from Kapiti. He was worried Kapiti airport majority owner Todd Corporation would be "probably be quite happy" to develop the land, in central Paraparaumu, into houses. The airport is part of the 125-hectare Kapiti Landing business and retail park, being developed by Todd Property, an arm of the Todd Corporation. Todd Property managing director Evan Davies said the company currently had no plans to close the airport and was working on a plan to replace the control tower. He said the airline had informed it about the "small reduction" in return Auckland flights from August. Economic growth in the region was important for the airport's future viability, he said, with Kapiti Landing and the company's investment in the airport contributing to this. The Kapiti Landing development includes Mitre 10 Mega, New World and Smiths City, as tenants and is near the central Paraparaumu interchange for the Kapiti expressway. The expressway replaces the current section of State Highway 1, and will likely to open by the end of this year.
And here we go again...
ReplyDeleteIt really does make you wonder if the Q300 fleet size is going to be reduced.
I can hear the bag of nails rattling around as they look for the right one to bang in on Kapiti Coast. Again, the competition at Palmy will be attracting people to drive and fly, and improvements in the roaring network to the Capital's airport are adversely affecting the ability for this route to grow. Plus, I bet there is hardly any targeted marketing campaigns in the district to promote the flights. The demographic is not necessarily going to be social media minded and targeted newspaper campaigns would be more likely to gain attention. But then how often does the airline advertise outside of the Internet these days?
ReplyDeleteI hope PPQ keeps a service but it does sound like the death nail is near....
Full page adverts in most newspapers around new Zealand actually.
DeleteAdvertising domestic or international destinations??
Deletefull range of regional destinations in regional newspapers
DeleteUnlike TIM which will probably be dropped next year, PPQ is is still a growth catchment area, as the Kapiti Coast district includes Paekakariki, Waikanae, Paraparaumu, Raumati Beach, Otaki and Raumati South. Currently the population is approximately 51,400 which meets Air NZ requirement for a regional service and is still growing, hence the Wellington suburban rail network electrification being extended to Waikanae in 2012.
ReplyDeleteThe reduction of services between PPQ/AKL by Air NZ, is due to the fact, that the population is mainly retirees and young families, so Air NZ is providing services for international flight connections and friends/living traffic to AKL/WRE/TRG. Business travel would make up a small percentage of passengers from the region.
The Kapiti Coast district is serviced be regular train services to Wellington city and hopping on the regular Airport Flyer bus service from Wellington railway station to Wellington airport, so its a cheaper option to do a train/bus to the airport and take a $49 plus flight on Air NZ/Jetstar from Wellington to other Air NZ/Jetstar destinations.
It wasnt that long ago that Air NZ said in the Wanganui Chronicle that "It was committed to serving the Wanganui market and this is reflected in flights from WANG-AKL in our Q300 fleet"
ReplyDeleteNek Minnit Air NZ ditches Wanganui.Irony is 80-90% of the flights ex WANG were full on Q300.
I think Air NZ is committed to getting out of regional routes full stop
But on the positive side... look how awesome air chathams have been!!! Look at their website... look at how they include the whole community and not from a giant corporate perspective.. flights accommodation at a local "motel" fishing charter etc..? Wish Rotorua had something like that instead of flights and maybe accommodation at the off shore $$$ novtel stay at the exclusive Polynesian spa all for $$$$
ReplyDeleteat last anz has ditched Whanganui after providing a p.poor service for many years.It linked for example recently Whanganui services to Taupo resulting in the late running of flights into Whanganui and subsequent late running of flights the following day. not impressed!
ReplyDelete