The addition of a new 66-seat ATR72 aircraft to Air New Zealand's domestic fleet and a lease extension on a second ATR will increase capacity of flights between Hawke's Bay and Auckland by nearly 20 percent.
Air New Zealand Link's John Hambleton said the changes equated to an additional 876 seats
being made available on flights between the two centres every week.
The new ATR will replace the current 33-seater Saab 340A aircraft on the daily Auckland to Napier 10.15am service and the Napier to Auckland 11.40am service - effectively doubling seat capacity.
In addition to the change to an ATR-equipped late-morning service, Air New Zealand is to introduce an additional evening service between Monday and Friday.
There will be a new Auckland to Napier flight at 5.20pm and a return flight at 6.40pm. The changes take effect from December 5.
* The extended-lease ATR will remain in service through to June 30 2005 to meet the demand on some regional routes. From July next year Air Nelson will phase in the first of its new 50-seat Q300 aircraft.
