Taupo-Auckland air link hitch, forum told

A TOUGH SELL: Air New Zealand general manager networks, Richard Thomson (left) and chief sales and commercial officer Cam Wallace at a meeting in Taupo to discuss upcoming cuts to Taupo's air links to Wellington and Auckland. PHOTO/LAURILEE MCMICHAEL

Now here's a conundrum: from February 2016, Air New Zealand can't - or won't - put on flights from Taupo to Auckland to suit travellers who want to do a full day's work there. But if any other operator tries to, they'll be seen as a competitor, and treated accordingly.

That apparent contradiction was just one of the many dissatisfactions brought up at a question-and-answer session with Air New Zealand executives in Taupo. Attended by about 80 people, many of whom travel regularly for business, or have businesses that benefit from easy air access to Taupo, there was plenty of criticism of Air New Zealand's decision to axe its Taupo-Wellington flights from April next year, and curtail its Auckland-Taupo services, despite putting on larger 50-seat aircraft.

But while Air New Zealand says it will support private operators wishing to take over the Taupo-Wellington route, it will compete against any operator that tries to offer a business commuter service on the Taupo-Auckland route.

While flying out of Rotorua to Wellington or Auckland is an option for Taupo business travellers, one man at the meeting said that the Rotorua flights were regularly full and it was impossible to get a seat at short notice.

Local aviator and businessman John Funnell said he and his family were exploring the possibility of offering a Taupo-Wellington service using a 14-seater aircraft, but said there were a lot of considerations, and warned it would likely be more expensive than the Air New Zealand fare.

"There's no way we can operate an aircraft as cost-effectively as these gentlemen can."

The Taupo Airport Authority has also had two other approaches about a Taupo-Wellington service, said mayor David Trewavas.

Air New Zealand chief sales and commercial officer Cam Wallace told the meeting the 19-seater Beech aircraft operating out of Taupo and other regional airports were coming to the end of their useful life.

Where possible, they would be replaced with 50-seater aircraft but on some routes the demand was not large enough.

"But the positive news for Taupo is that on the Taupo-Auckland service we think we can make that work with a 50-seat aircraft and we'll have more seats," he said.

But he acknowledged that while the timing of the larger planes coming into Taupo from 2016 would be convenient for people travelling from Auckland, it would be more difficult for locals, at least in the short term.

"For people based in Taupo doing business in Auckland for the day, it will be more difficult. It's possible to do a return trip to Auckland in a day, but you'll get to Auckland mid to late morning and have to leave at 4pm."

Asked whether Air New Zealand would allow another operator to offer an Auckland-Taupo service with more convenient timing, general manager networks Richard Thomson said no.

"They would be in direct competition with Air New Zealand at the same time."

Mr Wallace said Air New Zealand would be legally obliged to compete with any operator offering the same route.