Editorial: International travel always full of delays

OPINION: The pause said it all. Palmerston North International Airport director Rodney Wong seemed to sum up the prospect of luring an international carrier back to the city when he said: "We foresee a year ... very similar to the current year."

His comments were during a meeting with the airport's owners, the city council.

While the financial news wasn't disastrous – the airport posted a $141,510 surplus for the second half of 2009 – it was below expectations.

But there was an air of inevitability in what Mr Wong said, that the next year looked like it was going to predictably pan out like the previous one. That is, one without a big name international carrier coming to town, which would stop the sniggering and put some meaning into the word "international" in the airport's name.

Rumours of an international carrier coming to the city have popped up and disappeared since the last overseas flight headed off into the sunset in March 2008.

Having an international airline return to Palmerston North would be high on management's to-do list. But the truth of the matter is that organisations like the airport companies have very little say on whether airlines fly in our out of their facility.

The airport can make the conditions attractive for a return to international flights, but market conditions are the over-riding factors. Add to that airlines' cut-throat focus on busy domestic and international routes, and you can see the uphill battle that Palmerston North faces.

In saying that, there is always a chance – as Hamilton International Airport found out last year.

They too said goodbye to international flights in 2008, only months after spending millions upgrading the terminal. Things looked grim as the airport had to mothball its new international passenger lounge.

Then, after months of negotiations, Pacific Blue announced it would step into the gap in the market and take on international travellers.

The lesson from that is that market conditions can change and what has been taken away doesn't necessarily have to be gone forever.

A return to international flights might be way off on the horizon but there's no need to start chipping the word off the airport's welcome sign just yet.

One more thing

After 12 years as Tararua mayor, and 18 involved with local government, Maureen Reynolds has confirmed rumours that she will not stand again in October's council elections. While other incumbents in the greater region have hinted they want another crack at the role, Mrs Reynolds has decided enough is enough.

Being the public face of an organisation such as a council, can take its toll with the demands, expectations, and stress, of the position. With about seven months until election day, she has left plenty of time for potential successors to sort out their campaigns.

- © Fairfax NZ News