Originair nears return to the skies
Nelson Tasman-based airline Originair will resume its flight schedule on the Nelson–Palmerston North and Nelson–Wellington routes from May 29.
Originair CEO Robert Inglis said he was ‘‘certainly encouraged’’ to be back flying domestic passenger routes again after the challenging period of lockdown.
While the national alert level 4 lockdown has resulted in the grounding of all domestic air travel, the airline had been able to operate in some capacity by offering charter flights in recent weeks.
‘‘As a small operator, it’s been a relief not to have our entire fleet parked up on the tarmac gleaming back at us,’’ Inglis said.
Inglis said Originair’s schedule was almost identical to what was on offer prior to lockdown, offering four flights a day, on four days each week.
However, fares were slightly higher at this stage, due to the ongoing uncertainty of the coronavirus situation.
‘‘We have ‘winterised’ the schedule slightly so that the last flights on each day arrive a little earlier as we know people like to get home earlier during the colder months.’’
Flying Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, adult fares will cost between $199 and $259 each way to Palmerston North, while a trip to Wellington will cost between $139 and $179.
One upside to the social measures in place was that every passenger would be allocated a window seat.
Originair was established in 2015 and has provided services to Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Napier and Wellington, prior to Jetstar’s entry to that route.
Inglis said the company was grateful to its passengers for their support and understanding throughout the lockdown and to those who used Originair for charter flights to transport essential services personnel and goods.
An updated schedule is available at www.originair.co.nz and all flights are now available for purchase.
To acknowledge the communities in which the company operates and the difficulty many people are currently facing due to unemployment and food insecurity, Originair will donate passenger fare revenues generated from the first week of resumed flights commencing May 29, to the Salvation Army, which will use the money to support its food banks in Nelson Tasman, Palmerston North and Wellington.
‘‘These are incredibly difficult times for many New Zealanders,’’ said Inglis. ‘‘Every business needs to do its bit in whatever way it can.
‘‘We have been fortunate to have had a very good summer, thanks to the support of the communities we serve – it is disappointing that so many people have been affected by this.’’