Stewart Island Flights co-owner Bill Moffat said the airline was still flying and had put a small surcharge on to its flights to and from Stewart Island.
‘‘We haven’t cut flights, and really, in reality, probably Air New Zealand hasn’t either. They’re cutting ones that don’t have many people on them, and I mean, it’s just called sensible planning, really,’’ he said.
‘‘We’ve always done a similar thing like that anyway. If there’s no-one on flights, we might adjust things a little bit, just to make it more environmentally and fiscally friendly, basically.’’
The company had placed a $10 fuel surcharge on flights for those who were booking. Those who had already booked before the surcharge was introduced about two weeks ago did not have to pay it, he said.
On the whole, people did not have any issue with the surcharge and he had had few cancellations.
He said if there was anything positive in the fuel price rise, it was that it had come near the end of the season.
‘‘We’re sometimes up to 16-20 flights a day. This fuel increase would be better if it was a couple of months later because it’s a bit seasonal down here. At least it’s not at the start of the season. It’s more towards the end of it, which is a good thing.’’
The price for aviation fuel had been set monthly but this had changed to weekly, he said.
The company flies nine-passenger Britten-Norman Islander planes, which take about 15 minutes to get from the mainland to the island.
Avgas aviation fuel had not risen as much as jet fuel, which he said was a bonus.
Real Journeys had also reduced its Foveaux Strait ferry services from three to two crossings per day earlier than usual as the domestic market had dwindled.
Meanwhile, Invercargill Airport confirmed yesterday it had lost a series of flights connected to Wellington and Auckland. Air NZ announced flight changes on Tuesday due to rising fuel costs.
Invercargill Airport chief executive Stuart Harris said no airport liked losing flights but it was understandable with the rising fuel costs Air NZ was facing.
