Rotorua to Sydney flights kick off

LATEST: The first trans-Tasman flights between Rotorua and Sydney are due to start tomorrow.

The Air New Zealand Airbus A320 flight is scheduled to arrive at the newly branded Rotorua International airport at 2.30pm and depart for Sydney an hour later.

The twice-weekly service is a multi-million dollar venture which has taken nearly 10 years to get off the ground.

Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters said the trans-Tasman link would make the city "truly international ...it is history in the making".

"As a council we have been working hard towards this day, the benefits will be astronomical. I look at Queenstown and the economic impacts similar flights have generated. Where they are now [20 flights a week] is where we want to be."

Destination Rotorua's Tourism Marketing general manger Don Gunn described the service as a great opportunity for Rotorua and the wider region to boom.

It would be a boon for the region's tourism operators after a tough winter during which overseas visitor numbers fell significantly, he said.

The flight would save travellers about three hours without an Auckland stopover, owner-operator of Rotorua's House of Travel Pam Turner said.

However, the airport's upgrade to Trans-Tasman capacity has not been without controversy.

The height of trees close to the flight path have also been an on-going concern. The Environment Court recently ruled in favour of a resident that his trees could remain. If the trees are not trimmed flight loadings will have to be lessened by 26 passengers to meet the Civil Aviation Authority's safety thresholds.

A local marae had planned to protest tomorrow against anticipated increased aircraft noise, but Rotorua's Daily Post reported today that marae representatives have agreed instead to sit down to "serious talks" with Rotorua District Court which wholly owns the Rotorua Airport Company.

The service will operate on Saturdays and Mondays until the end of January. It then switches to Saturdays and Tuesdays.

- NZPA