Mainland to reduce flights

Flights to Oamaru Airport are to be reduced by Mainland Air in an attempt to keep the service operating, but it will be reviewed again by the end of this month.

Patronage had not met the Dunedin-based company's expectations for the service to continue to operate four days a week, but the company would honour bookings on the days it had dropped, and any passengers who wanted to fly on those days.

Mainland Air launched its Oamaru service on June 4, with four flights between Oamaru and Christchurch on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Its chief executive officer Shirley Kean said yesterday flights had been reduced to the two most popular days, Wednesdays and Fridays.

However, it will fly on Mondays and Sundays on days it has bookings, which other passengers can also join.

Those Monday and Sunday flights are expected to last until the end of this month.

At that time, Mainland would review the service again, but was hoping to keep it going.

However, whether the service would continue, or change, would depend on patronage, with local people urged to use the flights.

david.bruce@odt.co.nz

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