Extra flights axed but bid to continue

Wanaka's business and tourism leaders will continue to push for increased flights to Wanaka Airport despite Air New Zealand subsidiary Eagle Air cancelling extra scheduled flights into the resort.

Eagle Air increased the number of flights from eight to 11 per week on Wanaka's sole route from Christchurch last August on a trial basis, in response to calls from local business and tourism leaders. An interim review after six months led to the removal of the "poor-performing" Monday and Sunday evening flights in June, Eagle Air general manager Carrie Hurihanganui said.

Two more flights have been axed after an extended trial period finished last month, reducing the service to a once-daily schedule.

"While the schedule changes in the service over the past year have seen some growth in the market, other influencing factors, such as seat factor, fare levels, etc have not grown," Ms Hurihanganui said.

"Consequently, with escalation in fuel cost and increase in operating costs, the poor performance of the route has significantly escalated. Essentially, the current business market to and from Wanaka is insufficient to support the trial schedule."

Lake Wanaka Tourism general manager James Helmore was disappointed but realistic about the challenges in increasing flight capacity into Wanaka.

The average fare price on a 19-seater Eagle Air flight from Christchurch to Wanaka was between $100 and $150, compared with the much larger Jetstar aircraft flying into Queenstown, which could operate on cost-per-passenger rates as low as $29, he said.

Mr Helmore said Wanaka was heavily reliant on tourism and needed to look at what else it could offer.

"Whether it's conferences, whether it's sporting teams ... Wanaka needs more industries to diversify its economic base."

The schedule changes take effect from January 27. A reduced schedule is already in place during December and early January because of less business traffic over the holiday period.