More flights to take off next month

The Sounds Air Pilatus PC12 will fly to Blenheim, initially six times a week.

In a month's time it will be chocks away for the latest air service out of Hawke's Bay.

Sounds Air will be commencing its Blenheim to Napier service from November 5, with six return flights a week initially planned.

"But we plan more as the service grows," the Marlborough-based airline's general manager Andrew Crawford said.

The original time frame had been for a start in August, but that had been put on hold, and last month the airline announced it was looking further down the track due to what Mr Crawford described as commercial reasons.

The aircraft's spacious interior.

It was estimated the service would likely start in the second quarter of next year as it had to be worked around aircraft availability.

Mr Crawford confirmed yesterday it would now take off in November and he saw it as "complimentary" to the airline's existing service from Wellington to Picton, Blenheim, Taupo, Westport and Nelson.

"With a flight time of 50 minutes this is a very cost- and time-effective way to travel between New Zealand's two premier wine regions," Mr Crawford said.

The service will use a state-of-the-art Pilatus PC12 turbine-propeller aircraft.

He said the aircraft had received a "great response" from travellers on the existing routes.

Hawke's Bay businessman John Stace, who initially sparked the idea as he was aware of the drawbacks and delays in travelling between the two regions using Air New Zealand schedules, said despite the delays he was always confident "it would happen".

He said there was plenty of potential for flights between two of the country's premium wine-making regions within both the business and tourism sectors.

"It is great for Hawke's Bay," he said.

"I am so pleased it has all come to fruition and what we have to make sure we do now is get behind it and support it."

He said he knew of several people in business who would regularly use the service.

"It can't come soon enough."

He said one additional advantage was that in the event of fog at Hawke's Bay Airport the Pilatus could land at Bridge Pa aerodrome.

Flights booked online will cost $249 one-way.

There will be 6.30am and 8am departures, with 5pm and 6.30pm departures on Thursday and Fridays.

There will also be a late afternoon return flight on Sundays and an early morning flight on Monday.