Such a gap could have been a major deflator of economic activity and a long-term detractor from the many great things our region has to offer.
When I first heard that our only option for flights could have seen us stuck with a Palmerston North commute, it felt much like a Rhys Darby safety video -- unfunny and anger-inducing.
Enter Air Chathams, which has picked up the Auckland route since we bade farewell to the taxpayer-owned incumbent.
It was (and is) a brave move which is not without risk but Air Chathams represents that great spirit of small-to-medium business which we see in our region -- plucky determination, malleability and a desire to do really well.
The values of this business are evident in each interaction. Gone are the days of sitting on hold for ages to make an inquiry -- the phone is answered in seconds by a friendly voice. Gone are the tiny planes with no service -- replaced by a fast plane with leg room, coffee and Tim Tams.
But most impressive is the fact that the extortive pricing for Whanganui travellers that accompanied our national carrier has been replaced by extremely reasonable fares.
This from an airline which many of us would not have known a great deal about -- however, Air Chathams is now the largest privately-owned airline in New Zealand, owned by Craig and Marion Emeny.
They started in 1984, and flew between the Chathams and Napier with passengers, general freight and seafood. They now export 400 tonnes of live crayfish annually and more than 700 tonnes of Chatham Island seafood of all species.
Over the years, Air Chathams has operated under lease and contract for a number of airlines, and has operated in Fiji, Niue, Darwin in Australia and Tonga.
The company has now set up a large hangar facility at Auckland International Airport, which provides flight operations and engineering services to Air Chathams and other third-party airlines.
One of the unfortunate "maxed-out corporate" (to quote a friend of mine) decisions by the previous provider of Whanganui's air service was to restrict access of paid Koru Club members to the airport domestic lounges.
In this regard, Air Chathams is looking at incentives for travellers such as frequent flyer benefits. Their Fast Bag equivalent is a good feature, too.
It is clear that Whanganui is very important to Air Chathams. They have invested heavily in the Saab 340 aircraft and it appears to be doing the trick, based on good patronage in the past two months' operations and great feedback from the public.
However, it remains crucial that we continue to support them. Duane Emeny of Air Chathams says they are "in this for the long-haul". This is an airline that isn't just interested in providing a service but to also develop a community and region by working closely with local business and government.
I will sign off 2016 in the same manner (though not as accomplished) as Etevihe, or "E", who has to be one of the best hostesses in the air right now -- I hope that you have enjoyed our journey through the year of business. Merry Christmas.
Balance Consulting is a Whanganui consultancy specialising in business strategy, process excellence and leadership mentoring -- contact Russell Bell on 021 2442421 or John Taylor on 027 4995872.
