Saturday, 20 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
New Zealand

Wellington's Airport Flyer bus saved but Hutt Valley misses out

9 Nov, 2020 04:21 AM4 minutes to read
The new Airport Flyer service will run between the city and the airport. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The new Airport Flyer service will run between the city and the airport. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Georgina Campbell
By
Georgina Campbell

Senior Multimedia Journalist

VIEW PROFILE

The future of the capital's Airport Flyer bus has been secured after NZ Bus pulled the plug.

Wellington Airport has announced it will launch a new and improved bus service for airport travellers next year, run by Tranzit.

But the service will not resume in the Hutt Valley, with the new Flyer only running between the city and the airport.

The privately run service isn't part of the region's public transport network, Metlink, or subsidised by ratepayers or taxpayers.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Under NZ Bus the service stopped accepting Snapper, is no longer tracked by real time information on the Metlink network, and has been the subject of fares hikes.

It also shortened its route to exclude the Hutt Valley.

Subscribe to Premium

Now Greater Wellington Regional Council chairman Daran Ponter once described it as a "sub-optimal airport bus service".

"Less people are using the service and what that means is more people are using taxis and other forms of transport and congesting local roads," he said as a councillor last year.

But the replacement service is set to deliver more frequent and reliable scheduling, a seven-day service, and access to Snapper and Metlink's real-time information screens.

It will also transition to electric buses in future.

Related articles

New Zealand

Covid-19: Sigh of relief for towns as casual contact tests negative

09 Nov 02:45 AM
New Zealand|Politics

PM defends stretched isolation hotel voucher system

09 Nov 03:42 AM
Business

Shotgun divorce: NZ-founded fintech ordered to offload $275m acquisition

09 Nov 04:00 AM
New Zealand

Magpies' fans have chance to see Shield over summer

09 Nov 12:17 AM

Wellington Airport facilities, transport, and technology general manager Leanne Gibson said Covid-19 has made it extremely challenging for operators to run the service.

Passenger numbers dropped to just 1 per cent of pre-Covid levels during lockdown, she said.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Since early July the service has only been operating between Wellington Railway Station and the airport on weekdays and during peak times while air travel volumes and passenger numbers recover.

"Domestic passenger numbers are climbing, reaching around 60 pe cent of normal in recent months and future growth looks positive, Gibson said.

"The Airport bus has been run successfully as a commercial service in the past and it will be again.

"We acknowledge the importance of a reliable bus service and we are working hard to get a replacement up and running as soon as possible."

Hutt South MP Ginny Andersen said local MPs and the Hutt City Council have worked together to keep the service running in the past and it was sad to see NZ Bus choose not to continue.

But she acknowledged the current circumstances due to Covid-19 have made it commercially challenging.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Andersen said it was a tough and uncertain time for people wanting to go to the airport from the Hutt Valley and she would continue to work with local government for the best possible transport options.

National list MP based in Hutt South Chris Bishop said the announcement brought good and bad news. Photo / Mark Mitchell
National list MP based in Hutt South Chris Bishop said the announcement brought good and bad news. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A Wellington Airport spokesperson said the tender process was open about route options, but responses noted running longer routes could be complex due to extra infrastructure requirements and variable traffic.

"Tranzit indicated they may be willing to extend the route to northern destinations in future, but right now we and they are focused on getting a great CBD connection up and running."

National list MP based in Hutt South Chris Bishop said the announcement brought good and bad news.

He welcomed the improvements which he advocated for as the local MP last term.

But he said residents would be disappointed there was no immediate resumption of the service to and from the Hutt Valley.

"It's encouraging that the airport and Tranzit have an open mind about future extensions of the service and I will be talking to them in coming weeks about how we can make this happen."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

After NZ Bus confirmed it did not intend to operate the Airport Flyer beyond its licence expiry at the end of November, a tender process was initiated for a new operator.

This was interrupted by Covid-19, meaning the new service could not be put in place for a seamless transition between NZ Bus and new operator Tranzit.

Gibson acknowledged the more than 10 years of service NZ Bus has provided to Wellingtonians on the airport route.

"In the meantime, there are other options available for airport travellers, including the public bus and shuttles, taxis and app-based pick-up which all have comparable costs.

"There are also a wide range of parking options, free pick-up and drop-off zones and two car share operators available to and from the airport."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Roads closed, parking restricted as Parliament protest looms

19 Aug 09:43 AM
New Zealand

One person dead in crash involving pedestrian

19 Aug 07:10 AM
New Zealand|Politics

Ombudsman sends PM 'please explain' over Sharma allegations

19 Aug 07:04 AM
New Zealand|Crime

Kawhia shooting: Mum haunted by frightening escape into darkness with children

19 Aug 04:04 AM
New Zealand

Young candidate hopes to lead Nelson Council

19 Aug 05:59 AM

Most Popular

Ombudsman sends PM 'please explain' over Sharma allegations
New Zealand|Politics

Ombudsman sends PM 'please explain' over Sharma allegations

19 Aug 07:04 AM
Kawhia shooting: Mum haunted by frightening escape into darkness with children
New Zealand|Crime

Kawhia shooting: Mum haunted by frightening escape into darkness with children

19 Aug 04:04 AM
Premium
Cecilia Robinson rejoins My Food Bag board amid 'deeply disappointing' share price
Business

Cecilia Robinson rejoins My Food Bag board amid 'deeply disappointing' share price

19 Aug 05:32 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP