Air New Zealand pull back from the regions

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wsnz

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#1178011 18-Nov-2014 15:31

I'm sure that if taxpayers faced increased costs to maintain economically unviable services they would still cry foul.

There will most probably be further cuts in the future to other marginal routes, especially where Q300's are introduced on all services. PMR-WLG is one that springs to mind.

Sidestep

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#1181238 22-Nov-2014 13:21

Well it looks there's a feeding frenzy of small operators wanting to fly the Kaitaia route at least.

I'm not that surprised, a back of the envelope calculation shows it's potentially a money maker (or at least not an immediate money looser) and has significant scope for increase.

The local paper reports interest from 4 operators, two of which sound pretty serious.

Sunair showed immediate and well publicised interest in the run. The issue I think they'd face is the aircraft they fly.

Piper Aztecs are a small (for commercial type) aircraft, with 6 seats & a small aircraft feel ie. climb in through a small door to sit tightly packed in a small cabin.
The potentially larger (12 seater) aircraft they've mentioned - a Cessna Caravan - with a single engine, & narrow fuselage also feels a bit squeezy inside. There's a fair bit of vibration & noise. Again a light plane feel.

Inflite Charters was at Kaitaia Airport yesterday with one of it's larger Jetstream J32's. Offered 6 free seats to Auckland for local business people.
The attraction of the Beech 1900D's that ANZ flies now is the cabin headroom and layout.
With a proper aisle to walk down between the seats, standup headroom, stairs to walk up into the plane, these feel like a 'real' commuter plane.
The Jetstream also has that feel, which is important to a lot of people, especially nervous fliers (not me - I like flying in anything!)

Here's hoping that one of these companies follows through. Kaitaia's had a scheduled air service since 1947, be a shame to loose it now.

Edit-clarity

Geektastic

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#1181287 22-Nov-2014 15:09

Who goes to Kaitaia? Aside from backpackers? I'm the only person I know who has even been there once!

I had no idea it was popular.

Sidestep

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#1181311 22-Nov-2014 16:18

Well.. some come here for the exclusive resorts...

Others for the wineries, beach tours, old growth Kauri forests or big game fishing.

We have a backpackers & surf lodge on the coast (won't link myself, bad form) some of the best surfing in NZ around here.

Of course many are business people, a 40 minute flight beats a 5 hour drive to Auckland.
Even if you do end up at the crappy domestic terminal & have to take the worlds most expensive taxi into the city..

Though our neighbours have a helipad for their beach tours, which Saltair uses, so if you're really upmarket you can avoid the nasty old public altogether..

Behodar

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#1240872 17-Feb-2015 14:33

Quick update: Air Chathams has picked up the Whakatane route with 14 flights per week in each direction. Schedule is here for anyone interested.

MikeB4

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#1240918 17-Feb-2015 15:20

Geektastic: Who goes to Kaitaia? Aside from backpackers? I'm the only person I know who has even been there once!

I had no idea it was popular.

Kaitaia is great, 90mile beach, Ahipara Beach, there are some massive sand dunes, not far from Kaitaia is the Karikari Peninsula and Matai Bay and Waikato Bay both of which are spectacular.

Geektastic

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#1240955 17-Feb-2015 15:57

KiwiNZ:
Geektastic: Who goes to Kaitaia? Aside from backpackers? I'm the only person I know who has even been there once!

I had no idea it was popular.

Kaitaia is great, 90mile beach, Ahipara Beach, there are some massive sand dunes, not far from Kaitaia is the Karikari Peninsula and Matai Bay and Waikato Bay both of which are spectacular.

Ok, I guess. I did not find 90 mile beach much more exciting than any other bit of windswept sand though...! just longer!

It was pleasantly deserted, however - but the wind ensured your sarnies would have been very gritty...

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MikeB4

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#1240974 17-Feb-2015 16:24

Geektastic:
KiwiNZ:
Geektastic: Who goes to Kaitaia? Aside from backpackers? I'm the only person I know who has even been there once!

I had no idea it was popular.

Kaitaia is great, 90mile beach, Ahipara Beach, there are some massive sand dunes, not far from Kaitaia is the Karikari Peninsula and Matai Bay and Waikato Bay both of which are spectacular.

Ok, I guess. I did not find 90 mile beach much more exciting than any other bit of windswept sand though...! just longer!

It was pleasantly deserted, however - but the wind ensured your sarnies would have been very gritty...

You have to suck your 'Sand'wiches out through a zip lock bag :P

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