Air New Zealand pull back from the regions

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myfullflavour

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#154879 11-Nov-2014 16:09

We have recently undertaken a comprehensive review of our regional network, including looking at the aircraft we operate and the destinations we service. As a result there are several changes being made. Learn more here: http://airnz.co.nz/regionalchanges

It's a shame Whakatane is being pulled (I can't comment on the other regions) as I understood it was well used by local residents.

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#1172935 11-Nov-2014 16:10

It seems that it's expensive to operate planes (duh), and the current fares (which people complain about) are losing $1m per month. People would be unlikely to pay more, so the only sensible option is to remove the services that are losing money.

freitasm

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#1172938 11-Nov-2014 16:13

Taupo?

I understand some regions - Palmerston is about a 90 minutes car drive from WLG, but Taupo is half-way from WLG - AKL, so a flight there would be a given.

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timmmay

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#1172939 11-Nov-2014 16:14

I guess you could fly to Rotorua instead?

freitasm

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#1172940 11-Nov-2014 16:15

Ah, that's why it's called "Gotta go". Not because you gotta fly at last minute fares, but because these regions gotta go...

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dclegg

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#1172942 11-Nov-2014 16:19

myfullflavour:
We have recently undertaken a comprehensive review of our regional network, including looking at the aircraft we operate and the destinations we service. As a result there are several changes being made. Learn more here: http://airnz.co.nz/regionalchanges

It's a shame Whakatane is being pulled (I can't comment on the other regions) as I understood it was well used by local residents.

We have family in Whakatane. It will be a shame to see this go. We're going to be shoving my daughter on a plane to go stay with her grandparents down there just after Christmas. Sad to think this will soon no longer be an option.

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#1172949 11-Nov-2014 16:30

Didn't even realise some of those places had electricity, let alone an airport... :P

Looks like they are slightly increasing the 'nearby' regional alternatives to cater for a possible increase in usage, e.g. Rotorua -> Auckland it says will get a third more seats. Still means a longer trip to get there, of course, which is not great for those travelling, but I imagine if the cost of the existing flights went up by $50 or so per person return, the usage would drop - and thus the price would go up again. Shame we don't have a high-speed intercity rail network like Japan...

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ripdog

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#1172950 11-Nov-2014 16:30

An unfortunate but understandable decision, and yet another example of the regions of NZ going down the drain. I wonder if the government is going to make any particular investment in the regions any time soon, or if it's okay us becoming a nation of 4 cities?

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#1172953 11-Nov-2014 16:32

freitasm: Taupo?

I understand some regions - Palmerston is about a 90 minutes car drive from WLG, but Taupo is half-way from WLG - AKL, so a flight there would be a given.

I travel to Taupo regularly but have never flown, always taken the car as I love driving through the central North Island.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

sbiddle

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#1172983 11-Nov-2014 17:10

This shouldn't be a surprise to anybody.

Average ASK (average seat kilometres) is 47% higher on a B1900 than Q300 according to the stats Air NZ published in their presentations in June. They've been progressively cutting B1900 flights and moving Q300s to regions where they can sustain the extra seats that end up in the market - but a Q300 that's only half full basically costs the same to fly as a full B1900.

People seem to have this idea that planes are cheap to fly and can't understand why you can have $49 seats on a 168 seat A320 but not on a 19 seat B1900, and are busy bleating on the stuff comments today. There are a lot of NZers who really are a lost cause..

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#1172997 11-Nov-2014 17:16

Bah!

Instead of a 45 minute drive each way, the nearest airport becomes a 2 hour drive each way!

If I'm going to drive 2 hours South I may as well keep going another 3 1/2 hours to Auckland.

And no more airport pickup for guests who fly in for our lodge...

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#1173003 11-Nov-2014 17:26

sbiddle: There are a lot of NZers who really are a lost cause..

I would argue most are a lost cause... lol :)

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#1173010 11-Nov-2014 17:38

dclegg: We have family in Whakatane. It will be a shame to see this go. We're going to be shoving my daughter on a plane to go stay with her grandparents down there just after Christmas. Sad to think this will soon no longer be an option.

I live there and while I've only flown a handful of times, the plane is usually mostly full. I'll be sad to see this go too.

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#1173082 11-Nov-2014 20:37

ripdog: An unfortunate but understandable decision, and yet another example of the regions of NZ going down the drain. I wonder if the government is going to make any particular investment in the regions any time soon, or if it's okay us becoming a nation of 4 cities?

? What's this 4 cities business.

NZ has one city - Auckland and it's southern suburb which is on news a lot. Has an earthquake, Christchurch I think its called. It's the only other place you can buy houses according to the tv news, house prices going up too.

Seriously though, if we continue to reduce services to peripheral towns more businesses that were coping with managers doing the odd trip to Auckland will just end up moving their companies to Auckland, vwhich is g je as there are lots of houses there.

The late Auckland to Dunedin flight was canned so trying to do full days meeting in Auckland is much more difficult.

A.

MikeB4

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#1173116 11-Nov-2014 21:03

afe66:
ripdog: An unfortunate but understandable decision, and yet another example of the regions of NZ going down the drain. I wonder if the government is going to make any particular investment in the regions any time soon, or if it's okay us becoming a nation of 4 cities?

? What's this 4 cities business.

NZ has one city - Auckland and it's southern suburb which is on news a lot. Has an earthquake, Christchurch I think its called. It's the only other place you can buy houses according to the tv news, house prices going up too.

Seriously though, if we continue to reduce services to peripheral towns more businesses that were coping with managers doing the odd trip to Auckland will just end up moving their companies to Auckland, vwhich is g je as there are lots of houses there.

The late Auckland to Dunedin flight was canned so trying to do full days meeting in Auckland is much more difficult.

A.

AirNZ must remain profitable, the regions are not viable for them. Its not up to AirNZ to reinvent the regions its up to the regions to do that and to make their areas viable for AirNZ to remain or return.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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#1173118 11-Nov-2014 21:06

I think that late Dud Akl flight might make a reappearance with the additional A320 that Air NZ announced with the purchase of the NEO's. I definitely recall 671/672 being moved back to the early time slot was mentioned. Don't quote me on that though!

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