Air NZ considers jets for Tauranga

Jet aircraft could become a familiar sight in Tauranga skies if Air New Zealand plucks up enough courage to introduce 104-seater Embraer jets into its regional services.
The Embraer E-190 is one of three aircraft replacement options being examined by the airline in the lead-up to phasing out its 11 ATR72-500 turbo-props.
The possibility of jets servicing the Tauranga-Wellington and Tauranga-Christchurch services has emerged from a letter sent to the airport's committee.
However, Air New Zealand is uncertain whether the extra comfort and speed offered by jets would entice people to pay 10 per cent higher fares.
Tauranga Airport manager Ray Dumble told yesterday's committee meeting that it would reduce the flight time to Christchurch by about 35 minutes from the current 1h 45min.
The two other aircraft under consideration by Air New Zealand were the next generation 68-seat ATR72-600 built in France and the 90-seat Bombardier Q400X built in Canada.
Air New Zealand's short-haul airlines manager Bruce Parton said most passengers preferred to fly on a jet rather than a noisier propeller aircraft, but the question was whether they were prepared to pay the 10 per cent premium.
He conceded the Q400X appeared the most likely aircraft to get the nod when Air New Zealand made its final decision next March. It met the airline's requirement for a fast, cheap-to-run 90-seat plus aircraft.
The jet would require Tauranga Airport to be surrounded by security fencing costing at least $700,000. The committee was also concerned Tauranga could lose frequency of services with a 104-seater aircraft.
Airline passengers through Tauranga Airport have boomed in the past five years from 100,000 in 2002 to 180,000 during the past 12 months.