Airport Flyer bus service ‘embarrassing’
There are calls for Wellington’s ‘‘embarrassing’’ airport bus service to be overhauled but operator NZ Bus says it’s not going anywhere.
Adult fares on the privatelyrun Airport Flyer service – the only bus which operates in and out of Wellington Airport – were recently hiked up to 33 per cent, and the discount Snapper system removed.
That means the buses are no longer linked to electronic display boards, so visitors have no way of knowing when a bus is due.
Greater Wellington regional councillor Daran Ponter said the number of services had also reduced over the past year, leading to passenger numbers dropping ‘‘through the floor’’.
He has called on the airport to consider dropping toll charges and creating priority access for public transport vehicles to encourage more people to use them.
He also wants the regional council to meet airport and NZ Bus staff to consider whether the service is still financially viable.
If not, the council and airport should consider running a Metlink service instead, he said.
‘‘I expect them to be willing to
■ Metlink No 2 bus: Lambton Quay to Broadway at Hobart St, 10-minute walk to airport: $3.74 peak Snapper fare, $2.81 off-peak
■ Airport Flyer: Wellington Railway Station to airport $12 (was $9), Lower Hutt to airport $18 ($12)
■ Taxi: Airport to CBD $30-40
■ Airport parking: $34 per day uncovered, $42 covered, $49 premium
have a conversation about it. At the moment, the service has become embarrassing.’’
Hutt South MP Chris Bishop, who campaigned against a proposal by NZ Bus last year to stop running the service to Lower Hutt, was pleased the council had finally accepted it may need to step in if the service fell over.
‘‘We’ve currently got a flyer service which is degrading, and anecdotally declining in popularity but it’s still there.’’
But NZ Bus chief executive Zane Fulljames denied the service was struggling, saying passenger numbers had remained stable over the past year.
However, he would not release patronage data to Stuff because of commercial sensitivity.
Ponter’s motion will be tabled at today’s sustainable transport committee meeting.