Flights set to double into capital

BY GRANT BRYANT

Air New Zealand will double the number of direct flights from Invercargill to Wellington on weekdays from early next year.

The new flights will leave Wellington at 9.05am, arrive in Invercargill at 11.05am, and leave for the capital 20 minutes later.

It is part of a weekly boost of 9500 regional seats as the airline anticipates a recovery in demand for domestic travel.

Tickets for the extra flights, which start in early February, went on sale yesterday.

Since October 2007 a morning flight that leaves Invercargill at 6.25am and returns at 7.50pm has been available.

Southland Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Richard Hay yesterday said the extra flights were a "very good" reaction to existing direct flights.

"In the past it was very difficult to get from Invercargill to Wellington in time to do business because of the need to get connections in Christchurch," he said.

"Generally that was in the `too-hard basket,' especially for one day meetings."

A strong response from Southland businesspeople using direct flights to Wellington had led to the increase, Mr Hay said.

"It's not signalling that business has necessarily increased, but has proven there was there was an absolute need for direct flights."

The flights were on a trail-only basis, and would be lost if they were not used, Mr Hay said.

However, Air New Zealand spokeswoman Tracy Mills yesterday said the flights were not on a trial basis.

Invercargill Airport's constant improvement in infrastructure, along with the increased flights raised the question of whether Southland could sustain trans-Tasman flights in the future, Mr Hay said.

"The argument's always been that there isn't a demand for trans-Tasman flights, but now there's proof that if an airline puts on a flight, a trial can be really successful."

There was "no doubt" trans-Tasman flights would be considered when the timing was right, Mr Hay said.

"Bearing in mind we're on the back of a recession, it will be looked at when the timing is right, and could be a viable option."

- © Fairfax NZ News