Direct flights from Taupō to Christchurch could become a reality as Taupō’s newly redeveloped airport aims to “be the heart of a growing aviation industry” in the district. According to a Taupō Airport Authority (TAA) committee meeting agenda, the TAA approached Air New Zealand in June last year to “assess the potential for a direct air link between Taupō and Christchurch”. The meeting will be held on Monday, and the report states the plan was a “work in progress” with Air New Zealand conducting an analysis of its Taupō to Christchurch (via Auckland) flights to see if a direct link could be feasible. The TAA is expecting a response from the airline in June or July this year, and Taupō Business Chamber president Amy Penn said a new route to Christchurch would be more than welcome. "The Christchurch to Taupō route opening would have a significant positive impact on local tourism and businesses providing a much-needed connection to the South Island, not only for travellers but creating opportunities for businesses to connect easily." Meanwhile, Sounds Air and the TAA are in negotiations to extend the Blenheim-based domestic airline’s contract with the airport. Sounds Air operates 15 return flights a week from Wellington to Taupō and the report states both companies are discussing “future schedules and route development” however, the result of these negotiations are not expected until mid-2023. Taupō Airport general manager Wayne Wootton said the new terminal and carpark were already a huge asset to the district. “It will not only serve as a transport hub for locals and visitors alike, but will be the heart of a growing aviation industry centred around our airport that includes a well-established skydiving destination, a growing aviation engineering industry, the rescue helicopter, and a strong agricultural and forestry aviation sector.” Airport operations manager Kim Gard said passenger numbers were steadiliy increasing and were around 90% of pre-Covid levels. “Based on the results for the first six months of financial year 2024, it is anticipated that the total number of passengers for the whole of the current financial year will be 65,000. “General aviation numbers are gradually improving, especially with the high increase in jet charter numbers in recent months and the recovery of the local operator’s skydiving and parachuting business. Land adjoining the airport has also been earmarked for future light industrial development to “boost commercial revenue for the airport with less reliance on aviation related activities”. “To date management has received three expressions of interest and are working with the interested parties,” Gard said. “An access road into the area already exists but, with regards services, there is only a water supply of limited pressure. To fully develop the area, management believes that full services, including an upgrade to the existing water supply, power, storm water and sewerage will need to be installed, the costs of which will be recovered through tenant leases.”
Source : https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/300812997/taup-airport-company-eyes-christchurch-connection
An interesting idea but from 1987 to 1991 Mount Cook tried flights between Taupō and Christchurch via Wellington... they didn't last. Has anything changed???
Not a chance. A pipe dream by the TAA. I mean Pax numbers through TUO are improving, but still not enough to warrant direct flights to CHC. And I mean who would fly it? Air NZ didn't want to continue with WLG flights, so they sure as eggs will not want to fly CHC flights. Sounds Air do not have any aircraft in the fleet that could fly the route efficiently....
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, it's a nope. I fly between TUO and CHC monthly and the short transit in Auckland has never been a huge issue for me.
Living in Taupo during the the last of the Eagle days and Taupo staring down losing it's Air NZ status entirely (thankfully Auckland stayed, although I think Air Chats would have been quite a good option with either the Saab, Metro or the ATR operating and they could have sold 68 seats on each flight and on the basis of what seats were booked, used the aircraft required) and knowing the mayor, there was apparently a local operator that was looking into steeping into Air NZ shoes and was going to operate Wellington and also Christchurch as there was a feeling that it could work...
ReplyDeleteI mean a lot has changed in Taupo since the 90s and the 2000s and especially between 2013-2022 since I lived there. Taupo has definitely a grown dramatically, you just have to look at the development south towards the airport and the wealth that lives there. Although there is a question as to why Kerikeri and Whangarei, both very close airports, Kerikeri with a population similar to that of Taupo has five flights a day vs two/three whether its serving the population north of Kerikeri but with Kaitaia served by GBA?
But there could be a possibility of a chc service... I think the Sounds air model and the seats on offer for the Pc12 would make it on the steep side, Air Chats would be the perfect fit with a fleet that can be rotated to match demand be it 19 seat metro or the 34 seat Saab and even the ATR and with the ability to spread the cost per seat. But since there is essentially no hub out of chc and being based in Auckland would most definitely rule them out unless Air Chats takes over the Auckland route. I'd be quite surprised if Air NZ was to launch a new route connecting Taupo to chc but crazier things have happened
Air New Zealand doesn't rely on airport companies pushing them to launch new routes. They have access to data galore and people employed to constantly consider what they fly, when they fly, and if there are untapped opportunities out there. The fact it's going to take almost six months for a response shows the lack of appetite.
ReplyDeleteIf a nonstop TUO-CHC route was launched would it be on a 6 month trial?
ReplyDeletePersonally, working at the airport and seeing the passenger numbers coming in from Taupo and wellington a direct Christchurch route would likely not fill up a 50-seater plane two times a day. But... if Air nz gave the route time i could see it becoming quite a popular route connecting, tourists especially, directly to the south island. We need the Beech 1900s back because that would be the perfect aircraft for the route. I would hope and really like to see this route come to fruition but i don't reckon air NZ would put money into a once-a-day or less flight. A smaller aircraft and this route would have going a long time ago!!
ReplyDeleteOne of the issues that does not appear to be being considered is how many people would drive from Taupo to Rotorua to catch a direct Rotorua to Christchurch flight?
ReplyDeleteCould do a hop via PPQ on Sounds Air PC12 maybe ?
ReplyDeleteIs this a route Originair could make work with the 19 seat J32 or are the logistics too hard for them given existing routes?
ReplyDeleteThe aircraft size would be perfect. But yes the logistics would be very hard because of where orgin air is based. Also an aircraft that size flying that distance might not he worth the money.
DeleteAgain not a chance. I fly 2 to 3 times a month CHC-TPO return and I never recognise more than one other person doing the same. Not remotely enough to fill a 19 seater let alone 50 seater ! Already there is 144 direct seats out of Rotorua 1hr away every day so thats a leakage risk for any fleet planner.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you although...
DeleteTaupo to Rotorua isn't exactly straightforward to say the least....
Rotorua from the BP turn off to the airport isn't exactly plain sailing regarding traffic and the two laned road all the way though with major schools on that route and the actual drive to Rotorua, especially to take advantage of the morning flight to Christchurch. It isn't worth the anxiety nor stress when you mix in the almost certain fog associated with the Broadlands area between Taupo and Rotorua.
Air NZ actually have quite reasonable pricing from Taupo to Auckland via Wellington or direct from Auckland vs the driving the car to Rotorua, parking it and having to drive all the way back...
But if an airline such as Air chats with the Saab or Metro or Sounds air (when it gets those electric aircraft...) would be more of a certainly than Air NZ and its already stretched fleet
Electric aircraft. Lol
DeleteCorrect using Rotorua flights is a risk. I used commute daily between Rotorua (home) and Taupo and never didn't make it through but sometimes up to 60 minutes hold up due to badly executed road "improvements" or road crashes. The real issue in the Rotorua caldera is poor weather impacts flights many many many times a year sometimes stretching to 2 days without flights ! So no certainty.
DeleteHowever the direct Taupo possibility won't have the business traffic (needs 2 services a day to appeal) or leisure appeal (people drive to Taupo for holidays) to justify a 19/50 seater.
From memory several years ago Auck-Taupo was the worst performing route in the AirNZ network. Since then traffic has improved and I'm seeing between 30 & 50 onboard with about 50% being recognised Taupo families. But another service, going south will cannibalise that.
If the council subsides the service to get the airline to the door, the airline will steal your money for year or two and exit. As other councils in NZ have found subsidy doesn't result in sustainability !!
Taupo to Christchurch would be a thin route. A bigger route not served non stop would be Whangarei to both WLG and CHC but the fleet is a bit stretched to open new domestic routes unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteRotorua airport is unreliable. Since covid more people are going to Taupo for a more premium travel experience and frankly a CHC route 3x a week with a Q300 would be ideal. Not sure about the naysayers here who love the Auckland transit .
ReplyDelete