Sky's the limit for top-flight airline

Sounds Air chairman John Stace, left, managing director Andrew Crawford, pilot Willie Sage and director Steve Handyside are riding an updraft of business, thanks to Air New Zealand's regional reshuffle. Photo / Paul Taylor

Sounds Air's Blenheim-to-Napier service is seeking greater patronage but the company will consider more flights in spring, says managing director Andrew Crawford.

It launched in November last year, aimed at servicing the wine industry with six arrivals and departures four days a week.

He said passenger numbers to Hawke's Bay were better than he expected "because often you look at the flights and your heart sinks a bit - they can be a bit poor".

"We have tried a few things: Monday mornings, Thursdays, Fridays, Sunday nights - trying to be all things to all people."

This month the airline dropped its Monday flights because the weekend getaway service wasn't being used and there was a greater opportunity with Blenheim-based planes.

Air New Zealand pulled out of its Blenheim-to-Christchurch service "which is a 25,000 passenger sector and we just couldn't let that opportunity go past".

He said more people booked the Christchurch route in the last two weeks than for Sounds Air's Hawke's Bay service which started in November.

Tuesday and Thursday Blenheim flights were now earlier, allowing the plane time to also make a morning flight on to Christchurch, freeing up a plane that needed to be painted in Sounds Air colours.

The earlier flights would continue until the end of October, when the full fleet will be operational and flights would return to the later schedule.

At the same time a decision would be made on more flights.

He said the main criticism of the Blenheim-to-Hawke's Bay service was not enough flights.

"You say put more flights on and we'll come, but it is just not that easy," he said.

Sounds Air has operated for nearly 30 years and is active in Marlborough, Wellington, Westport, Nelson, Taupo and Napier. As well as Blenheim to Christchurch the privately owned airline has taken up opportunities in Westport and Taupo since the Air New Zealand reorganisation.

Charter flights to play golf in Hawke's Bay and Napier were very popular and the company hoped for more charter bookings, which he said were very cost-effective for day-return trips.

Local Government New Zealand president and Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said that since Air New Zealand reshuffled its regional services Sounds Air "emerged from the ashes" to be a "fantastic operator and they have a real part to play in filling those gaps".

"What I hear from other mayors is they are grateful for what you offer and your professionalism."

Mr Crawford said people were soon converted to flying in Sounds Air's smaller planes - they flew faster and higher than main-airline planes, giving quicker and smoother flights.

The comments were made at a function after a board meeting at Craggy Range's Havelock North Giants Winery on Thursday.