Masterton bid failed to take off

Former Masterton mayor Garry Daniell, left, and SoundsAir managing director Andrew Crawford at Masterton Airport, when the company first proposed flights from the Wairarapa town to the capital.

SoundsAir has decided to start a new flight service in Wanganui instead of Masterton.

It had proposed flights between Masterton and Wellington but feedback had not been positive.

"We had a lot of feedback from locals saying you're wasting your time," said Andrew Crawford, managing director of Sounds Air.

He said Masterton residents were more interested in reinstating flights to Auckland but the company couldn't offer that.

Air NZ announced earlier this year it would cut the Masterton-Auckland service and also its Wanganui-Wellington service.

Sounds Air stepped in with a spare plane and visited both towns to see which route was more viable.

"It was a balancing act between the towns," said Mr Crawford.

"The difference was that it was a tried and tested route with Wanganui and it was a bit further for people to drive to Wellington.

"It really had to be Wanganui."

He said there was overwhelming enthusiasm for the service from Wanganui Mayor Annette Main, councillors and residents.