Push on for cheaper flights

Trustpower community relations manager Graeme Purches says Tauranga needs more affordable flights and Trustpower is reviewing its travel arrangements. Photo / John Borren

Pressure is mounting on Air New Zealand to lower its fares in and out of Tauranga.

A spokesman for Trustpower has spoken out about its battle for cheaper regional flights and Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby is also backing the call for cheaper travel.

Air New Zealand yesterday said Tauranga customers were likely to see only a 5 per cent drop in prices when its smallest planes were dropped from the fleet in February 2016. That followed its announcement last week the fleet changes would reduce regional fares by an average of 15 per cent.

The changes would provide 1676 more seats from Tauranga a week. However, 1400 customers who used to fly from Whakatane, which will lose services, would have to travel to Tauranga to catch a plane.

Trustpower community relations manager Graeme Purches said Tauranga needed more affordable flights and Trustpower was looking at how to curtail its air travel to "avoid costs getting out of hand".

It had invested in Air NZ's Starfish Programme that gave regular discounts on regional flights but it was dumped in September by the carrier and Trustpower's spend was beginning to exceed budget, he said.

"As a consequence, we are reviewing our travel arrangements, in terms of who we deal with, how we travel, and how we can curtail air travel ... Our discussions to date with Air NZ have been rigorous to say the least, and the energy we are putting into those discussions is elevating rapidly in line with our increasing costs."

Mr Crosby reckoned "there is room for movement downwards".

Tauranga Airport manager Ray Dumble said the cost of flights was a hot topic right through regional New Zealand and "is something the regional airports and the New Zealand Airports Association are continually lobbying Air NZ about".

Tauranga was primarily served by 50-seat Q300 aircraft with one 19-seat Beechcraft and one 68-seat ATR on an average weekday, he said. On an average weekday there were 13 arrivals and departures in total - six flights to Auckland, five to Wellington and two to Christchurch.

Air NZ spokeswoman Imogen Dennis said the airline would progressively replace the remaining Beechcraft aircraft operating between Tauranga and Auckland with 50-seat Q300 aircraft that would add an extra 532 seats per week.

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Dave Burnett said Tauranga would gain from Air New Zealand's decision to cut flights in other parts of the Bay of Plenty.

Fare go

*Tauranga to Wellington: $194
*Auckland to Wellington: $129
*Tauranga to Christchurch: $249
*Auckland to Christchurch: $229
Cheapest one-way flights available for flights on November 24 as listed on www.airnewzealand.co.nz yesterday.

Air NZ

From February 1 you can fly to "really want to be there events" on a confirmed fare available 90 minutes before departure for $169 for a single one-way sector or $249 for two or more sectors.
- Source Air NZ