The company has been trying to juggle schedules with demand and the rising price of fuel.
Jet fuel has doubled in price since March when conflict started in the Middle East.
Air NZ announced yesterday it was cutting 81 flights from Dunedin during the next three months.
There would be 50 return flights cancelled from Dunedin to Christchurch, mainly Monday to Thursday afternoon, while 23 return flights would be cancelled from Dunedin to Auckland, mainly afternoon rotations on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Eight flights from Dunedin to Wellington, in the afternoon on Mondays and Thursdays, would also be canned.
Following these removals, there remained 911 return flights operating to and from Dunedin during this period.
The airline had kept capacity in place for key student movement dates, including graduations on August 22 and the mid-semester break from August 29 to September 7.
Air NZ said it continued to focus on consolidating lower demand and off-peak services in its cuts.
Travel agent Vincent George said the whole industry was suffering because of the high cost of aviation fuel.
‘‘Every day ... we check all of the airlines, all of the changes.
‘‘It hasn’t been too bad so far.
‘‘But there’s also not only Air New Zealand domestically but some of the Emirates flights ... go daily out of Christchurch.
‘‘But they’ve downgraded the days of the flights out of Auckland.’’
Domestically things were tough.
‘‘We’re really busy, but domestic flights are more expensive than I’ve seen them ever.
‘‘You really have to book very, very early, or be very lucky to get a deal.
‘‘Sometimes booking an Auckland return [is] over $800. Even to Christchurch return, $600.
‘‘You could go to Australia for that.’’
People were still flying to Europe.
Europe was expected to be very popular with travellers this year before the Middle East conflict started and some people decided to delay their trip for a year.
Many people who were flying to Europe were travelling through Asia.
Short-term destinations such as Vietnam, Thailand and the Pacific Islands were proving popular.
He had refunded some travellers and re-routed others.
Taieri MP Ingrid Leary said it was frustrating to see more domestic flight cuts to Dunedin when at the same time new international routes were being developed — and during a cost-of-living crisis.
‘‘The loss of off-peak flights means fewer choices and ultimately higher prices if recent trends continue.
‘‘The government as a major shareholder should be demanding more transparency regarding the domestic yield ratios so that local consumers can be assured that the impacts are a direct result of events in the Middle East — and are not about domestic travellers from the regions subsidising the international market.’’
Air NZ announced new routes out of Christchurch last week, to Perth, Singapore and Tokyo, starting in October.
Dunedin Airport deputy chief executive Megan Crawford said the airport was continuing to operate as normal and no changes had been made to staffing.
‘‘While any reduction in services is disappointing, we understand Air New Zealand is responding to ongoing cost pressures from elevated jet fuel prices.
‘‘We continue to stay close to Air New Zealand on future schedules and the importance of strong regional connectivity.’’
