Bigger planes for Rotorua to Auckland route

An Air New Zealand Q300 will fly between Auckland and Rotorua from Sunday offering more seats.

Passengers wanting to fly between Auckland and Rotorua during the week will have a bigger and better option as of this coming Sunday.

From February 9, Air New Zealand will be operating a larger Q300 aircraft on its weekday morning flights between Auckland and Rotorua.

Departure times are also changing, with the Auckland to Rotorua flight moving from 8:05am to 8:30am, and the Rotorua to Auckland service leaving slightly later at 9:30am instead of 9am.

The 50-seat Q300 aircraft provides an additional 31 seats per flight, the equivalent of a 30 per cent increase in passenger capacity.

Airport chief executive Alastair Rhodes said the scheduling changes and increased capacity were already proving popular.

"These changes to the Auckland and Rotorua routes are a positive development for our region.

"Forward bookings on the route have already experienced double digit growth compared to the previous year, as a result of the Q300s 30 per cent capacity upgrade. This is encouraging."

He said increased seat numbers also had the potential for Air New Zealand to offer cheaper tickets, with $79 lead in fares.

"The fact Air New Zealand is providing the increased capacity without any decrease in frequency means we get the benefit of an efficient and cost-effective schedule for locals and visitors to and from Rotorua.

"This is made even more significant by the fact the Auckland to Rotorua link is a critical tourism route for the region."

He said the future of the service was bright, with the next objective being the introduction of the larger Q300 planes on the evening service.

"The new morning service is a great development, but we still need to work together as a community to demonstrate the justification of a larger aircraft, as well as the introduction of the Q300 on the evening service as well.

"The Auckland to Rotorua route has huge potential, with easier and more economical ways of getting to and from Auckland, be it for business, concerts, international connections, sporting events and so on."