Daily services between Dunedin and Queenstown were among the first planned flights announced by new carrier Kiwi Regional Airlines yesterday.
The airline, set to begin flights in September, also announced an inaugural service between Dunedin and Nelson and the revival of a Nelson-Hamilton service, last seen in 2008.
Airline chief executive Ewan Wilson said he had ''absolute faith'' Dunedin and other communities would buy into the concept.
''The key thing to point out is our route avoids direct competition with any of the larger carriers.
''We are region to region - not region to major centre, and certainly not major centre to major centre.''
The airline planned to begin service on September 27, and would use one aircraft, a 32-seat SAAB 340A, to complete eight daily flights from Monday to Friday.
Those included a return morning service between Dunedin and Queenstown, a return Dunedin-Nelson-Hamilton service between mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and another Dunedin to Queenstown return service in the evening.
Mr Wilson said he was ''particularly interested'' in developing Dunedin-Queenstown traffic.
''What's really exciting is Dunedin gets that Queenstown service twice a day, so we're really hoping to attract day trippers from Queenstown who may want to spend the day in Dunedin looking at its various attractions.
''We are also quietly confident corporate travellers would love to avoid the eight-hour return drive between Dunedin and Queenstown in favour of a 30-minute flight in each direction.''
The first Dunedin-Nelson flights would connect the country's ''premier fishing industry ports'', Mr Wilson said.
Fares were not yet confirmed, but would be competitive.
''We are keeping that pretty close to our chest.''
The aircraft would fly return from Dunedin to Queenstown then on to Hamilton via Nelson on Saturdays, returning to Dunedin via Nelson on Sundays. Times of those flights were not yet confirmed.
Reduced flights on weekends was because maintenance work was to be done in Hamilton. There were no Dunedin-based companies capable or prepared to be qualified to work on the SAAB aircraft.
Mr Wilson was confident the airline would gain traction, adding the company would not have invested in buying its own aircraft it it was not.
''We are confident we will be a safe, reliable, efficient airline that knows its limitations and will excel on what it focuses on. We spent a lot of time trying to collate information but, at the end of the day, the proof's in the pudding. The market will tell us.''
The airline had employed five senior staff, as per Civil Aviation Authority regulations.
Flight attendants had been recruited from travel and tourism schools and captains and first officers would be appointed soon.
The airline's winter schedule would begin in April next year and end in September. The only change was some earlier flight times to fit in with Queenstown Airport requirements.
