Flights between Rotorua and Sydney cancelled

Six flights between Rotorua and Sydney have been cancelled this month and next because of low passenger numbers.
Air New Zealand spokesman Mark Street has confirmed the transtasman flight scheduled for last Saturday and Tuesday were cancelled as well as next Tuesday's and flights on three Saturdays in June - June 4, 11 and 18. Passengers booked on those flights have been re-booked on to services to and from Auckland.
Rotorua International Airport and the Rotorua District Council were informed just over six weeks ago.
A flight between Rotorua and Sydney on Saturday, April 2, was cancelled because of very low passenger numbers, bringing the total number of flights cancelled so far this year to seven, compared with just two flights cancelled because of low numbers last year.
However, the airline said it remained committed to the success of the flights.
The cancellations have had an impact on events over Queen's Birthday Weekend including the 3D Rotorua Off Road Winter Multisport Festival incorporating the 2011 Australasian Multisport Championships.
Organiser Neil Gellatly said 11 top athletes from Australia travelling to the event had to change their travel plans, at extra cost.
One of the performers at the Rotorua Blues Festival, Alison Penny, has also had to change her plans and travel earlier to Rotorua because her direct flight on June 11 had been cancelled.
Festival organiser Sally Garner said it was the second consecutive year Penny had to change her plans because of a flight being cancelled.
The Galaxy Travel NDuro Winter MTB Series 2011 is on June 12 but organiser Marcus Diprose said it was not affected by the cancellations. However, he was not surprised flights were being cancelled.
He said he was on a transtasman flight a fortnight ago and there were only 49 passengers.
Rotorua District Councillor Charles Sturt said the flight cancellations were "extremely disappointing".
"Less flights, less income for the Airport Company, less money to pay the interest on the debt ... If people don't use it they will lose it."
Ratepayers were paying a lot to promote Rotorua in Sydney, Mr Sturt said.
"That money should be bearing fruit and obviously it's not."
He said he believed flights to Brisbane and Coolangatta should be introduced as many people had been asking for them.
Destination Rotorua Tourism Marketing general manager Don Gunn said the cancellations were disappointing but the winter months were always going to be a challenge.
Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters said a small number of cancelled flights during the traditionally slow pre-winter period was normal for airlines everywhere.