Plans are afoot to bring the annual flight to the aurora australis back to Dunedin, but organisers say some stars have to align first.
About 130 people travelled to the edge of the Antarctic and back from Christchurch last week on an Air New Zealand Boeing 787 Dreamliner, where they got to see uninterrupted views of the aurora australis away from all light pollution and above foul weather.
It was the second flight co-ordinated by Otago Museum director and former Nasa Space Telescope Science Institute public outreach head Ian Griffin.
The last flight was from Dunedin, in March last year.
It could not be repeated from Dunedin this year because Air New Zealand had retired its last Boeing 767, which was the only long-haul plane that could land and take off from Dunedin’s shorter runway.
Christchurch was the best alternative, Dr Griffin said.
Passengers paid between $1990 and $6000 for the flight which headed as far south as 62deg, and took advantage of the equinox aurora effect.
For some though, the flight from Christchurch was not the same as the flight from Dunedin.
Brad Phipps, in an online post, said it was a great flight, "but a lot of people said there was something missing about this one".
"I think the family feel of how Dunedin seemed to come together to support the first flight (the pre-flight meet at the museum, Mayor Dave Cull sending us off, strong support from the airport etc) was missing this time around.
"Christchurch, while still organising it brilliantly well, just seemed to treat it as just another flight."Dr Griffin said the Dunedin flight was "very, very special".
"He [Mr Phipps] is right — everybody did come together."
He said it had inspired him to investigate a way to bring the flight back to Dunedin.
Air New Zealand is looking at buying a new generation of airliners — the Airbus A321neo — that could make the long-haul flight from Dunedin, he said.
"We’re looking into it and we hope it can go from Dunedin again next year."
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I wish the airport would just hurry up and increase the length of the runway. It'll increase likelihood of gaining more international flights, make it easier for cargo/famous bands to land their planes with all the concert gear on them instead of trucking it all down from Christchurch, and be handy for aurora flights like this.
Stop waiting for the 'right opportunity' to come along to extend the runway Dunedin Airport, as 'opportunities' are already being missed and will continue to do so...
And a much better investment (for the community and businesses) than a multi-million dollar cycle bridge, which will end up grossly under-utilized.