Flights to Auckland set to resume

Air New Zealand’s direct A320 jet service between Auckland and Invercargill will resume on July 6.

The airline has today released its domestic schedule for July and August with the airline to operate four return jet services a week on its Auckland to Invercargill route.

The airline resumed flights between Christchurch and Invercargill at the start of alert level 2, with that route flown by its 68-seat turboprop aircraft.

Air New Zealand head of tourism and regional affairs Reuben Levermore said the airline was thrilled to return to Invercargill using its A320 jet.

‘‘When we launched the jet service in August last year, we had such an enthusiastic response from the Southland community who had long sought a direct connection to Auckland,’’ Levermore said.

‘‘Although times have since become more challenging, we are ready to resume the service and work with our partners in the region to enable tourism and broader economic recovery.

‘‘In addition to the Auckland to Invercargill jet service, we will also be resuming services between Invercargill and Wellington from 6 July, with one daily return service operated by our 50-seat Q300 turboprop aircraft throughout the week.’’

Great South chief executive Graham Budd said the return of the jet service came quicker than anticipated. ‘‘We’re delighted, frankly,’’ he said.

Budd said Great South had lobbied ‘‘pretty hard’’ for the flights, but understood the difficult position the airline had been in.

‘‘The demand has clearly been greater than even Air New Zealand thought it would be.’’

‘‘We’re delighted, frankly . . . The demand has clearly been greater than even Air New Zealand thought it would be.’’ Graham Budd

Great South chief executive

Budd believed the direct flights were important not just for tourism, but also for businesspeople as well as for freight services.

‘‘Auckland is a big market for lots of our products,’’ he said.

Budd encouraged Southlanders to make use of the opportunity the flights provided. ‘‘This is an opportunity to travel themselves and also invite people to the region,’’ he said.

Great South’s general manager for tourism, community and events, Bobbi Brown, said the return of direct flights was ‘‘fantastic’’ news.

‘‘It’s a really good signal that we’re starting with our recovery,’’ she said.

Brown said the flights would make it easier for businesspeople and tourists to return to Southland.

Yesterday the Government announced a $20.2 million package to support regional tourism organisations such as Great South, and Brown said this together with the direct flights would help the organisation attract more visitors to the region.

‘‘It’s part of a whole lot of good things that are happening as we rebuild postCovid-19,’’ she said.

Invercargill Airport general manager Nigel Finnerty said he’d heard the return was in the pipeline a day or two ago, but the confirmation came sooner than he expected. ‘‘I think it’s a real vote of confidence in Southland that it’s come back as soon as it has, as we reopen for business,’’ he said.

Finnerty and his team had been working with Air New Zealand to reopen the route since the country came out of lockdown.

With the return of the Wellington route as well, Finnerty said all the normal routes from Invercargill would be restored.

The airport would see 4788 seats moving in and out of Invercargill every day, he said.

‘‘We’re the first regional airport to have jets in a long time, so we’re excited to see it back.’’

The new Auckland to Invercargill jet schedule will operate on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

The flight will depart Auckland at 10.35am, arriving in Invercargill at 12.40pm. The return flight will leave Invercargill at 1.20pm, arriving in Auckland at 3.20pm.