The spokesperson said the affected flights represent 5% of its total schedule, with 44,000 passengers impacted out of the 1.9 million the company will fly between March 16 and May 3.
The majority of affected customers would still travel on the same day as their booking, the spokesperson said.
Tukituki MP Catherine Wedd said airlines adjusted schedules for a range of reasons, including fuel costs, demand, and operational pressures.
“I know how vital reliable airlinks are for our region for business, tourism, families and getting to appointments.
“Any potential changes to flight schedules have a real impact on Hawke’s Bay residents, especially given our region’s dependence on air links for domestic travel and freight and this is a challenging situation for our region.”
She said New Zealand was well placed to manage the economic impacts of the conflict in Iran because the Government had “spent the past two years strengthening the economy”.
“The conflict began as our economy was emerging from recession, meaning we face this challenge from a stronger position.”
Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and has worked in radio and media in the UK, Germany, and New Zealand.
