New K¯apiti f light service courtesy of Air Chathams
Air Chathams has announced it will start flying from Paraparaumu, north of Wellington, to Auckland on August 20, ending months of uncertainty after the route was dropped by Air New Zealand in April.
The airline will offer 36 flights a week and its website shows prices ranging from $69 to $318. Saab planes will provide the service, each seating 36 passengers.
The announcement follows the decision by Ka¯piti Coast District Council to pay $150,000 toward a marketing scheme for the business. Air New Zealand will also contribute $50,000.
The future of the Ka¯piti airport has been a hot issue for the district after Air New Zealand abruptly announced on March 9 it was canning the service.
The news caused an outcry. Regional Development Minister Shane Jones accused the airline of abandoning the regions and Ka¯ piti Coast Mayor K Gurunathan said it left his district vulnerable in a disaster.
Yesterday, Gurunathan said he was delighted to have the service back in the region. ‘‘I said to ‘watch this space’. Now all the hard work with business, community and government to rally support to attract and secure air services for our district has paid off.’’
Airport owners Todd Property have offered Air Chathams a free terminal lease for the first year, followed by a 33 per cent discount on the lease previously paid by Air New Zealand for another two years, or during the period Air Chathams is building up its Ka¯ piti-Auckland service.
The Saab plane is a twin-engine turboprop with seating capacity for up to 36 passengers. Air Chathams already operates in Auckland, Whakatane, Whanganui, Wellington, Christchurch and its Chatham Islands’ home base.
Air Chathams chief executive Craig Emeny said the airline was really looking forward to its first flights and to meeting its new customers from Ka¯piti and beyond.
Ka¯ piti Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman Julene Hope said Chatham Air’s announcement would come as good news to the business community.