Final Taupō Flights

 

Originair flew its final Wellington-Taupō flights today, the 26th of May 2025. The final flights, OG 710 to Taupō and the return flight to Wellington OG 711, were flown by British Aerospace Jetstream 32 ZK-JSK.

Originair commenced the Wellington-Taupō service on the 17th of February 2025, with the inaugural flights, OGN732 from Welllington and the return OGN733 being operated in British Aerospace Jetstream 32 ZK-JSJ under the command of Captain Damien King and First Officer Jason Salo.

Originair's British Aerospace Jetstream 32 ZK-JSJ arriving on to the gate at Taupō with the inaugural service on 17 February 2025. Photo : Stuff

The service, which was operated on a three month trial basis, operated thrice weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Taupō District Mayor David Trewavas told Stuff Travel it was unfortunate that the airline could not make it work. “We thank them for giving it a go but, unfortunately, the forward bookings just didn't stack up for what they needed for their business.”

In another Stuff article the mayor said The three return flights each week were mainly used by people like the Department of Conservation, Contact Energy and Corrections. The mayor hoped Originair's axing of the route won't be the end of direct flights to the capital and said the council was actively looking at other options. "We're just going to have to find another operator to take care of that route now."

Sadly, however, the Taupō-Wellington route has never been really successful. Even using 18-seaters Air New Zealand Link often operated Taupō-Wellington via Whanganui as neither centre could sustain services to Wellington. Likewise, Soundsair couldn't make the service work with 9-seat Pilatus PC12s. While regional connectivity is important people are showing they are happier to drive to the likes of Rotorua to catch Air New Zealand or just drive the whole distance.